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Caught Our Eye

Revolving door continues to spin despite lack of major lobbying growth

Posted by John Sugden on July 28, 2014

At least 222 people left Congress and have filed as lobbyists during the first half of 2014, suggesting the revolving door has kept turning despite underwhelming lobbying revenue, according to lobbying data collected and reviewed by LegiStorm.

Election years tend to see fewer revolving door staffers. This year's figure is on course to outpace its closest comparison, the 329 who left Capitol Hill to lobby in 2012.

Lobbying revenue began to decrease among Washington's top firms three years ago, following the institution of the earmarks ban.

Despite the strength in this year's numbers, they were nowhere near the peak year for revolving, which happened when control of Congress changed hands to the Democrats in 2007. In that year, 758 people left Congress to lobby and more than 200 lobbyists also took jobs on the Hill.

This year's revolvers are nearly split along party lines, with 3 more Republicans than Democrats leaving to lobby.