With the third quarter lobbying filings in, the number of former Hill staffers registering as lobbyists this year is on track to far surpass the number from the last election year
Seventy former staffers registered as lobbyists this month alone, bringing the total to 315 this year so far. By comparison, 329 former aides went through the revolving door during all of 2012.
Some of the staff have taken on new lobbying positions in advance of their member's retirement - or following their resignation.
For example, Andrew Hawkins, who served as chief of staff to Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Mich.) until June, now lobbies for the healthcare-focused East End Group. Rogers announced earlier this year that this would be his last year in Congress. And Wyatt Stewart, who served as an adviser to Rep. Eric Cantor (R-Va.), has since signed on with Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America. Cantor lost his primary and subsequently resigned in August.
While congressional staffers seem eager to head to K Street, the number of lobbyists doing the reverse is the lowest LegiStorm has on record: Just 28 registered lobbyists have taken jobs on the Hill this year.
