When Leaders Became LOBBYISTS
For two years, from
Term limits forced both from office after the 2012 elections - and both soon began lobbying the state government they had once helped lead. Cannon launched his own firm,
In entering the lobbying business, the two former legislators took a path that is well trod from both sides of the aisle. More than half of Florida House Speakers since 1980 have gone into lobbying at least temporarily, including three consecutive Democratic Speakers:
Since 2006, more than two dozen ex-lawmakers have made the jump - about one of every eight who have left
In some respects, the transition into lobbying is a logical extension of the skills that legislators need to advance into leadership positions in the first place. The internal campaigns to become House Speaker or Senate president, for example, require both ambition and the ability to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars to travel the state and support fellow lawmakers whose backing they need.
Once in a top spot, legislative leaders must be able to understand and work on a broad range of public policy issues and cultivate, maintain and balance relationships with all manner of businesses and advocacy groups.
"It's sort of like a professional football player that quits playing and somebody says to them, 'You've been doing this a long time. Have you thought about being an offensive coordinator or a head coach?" says former state Rep.
"Nobody knows the system better," Haben says. "The fact is, unless you have served in
One key skill set common to both leadership and lobbying is the ability to maintain the confidence of other legislators and credibility on issues. "Because you know the districts, you know what's important back home to each of the 120 seats," in the House, says Haben. "You may have a client that really needs a vote on an issue, but you know if you go in and talk that freshman or sophomore member into voting for you, for your client, he's going to struggle with that vote back home."
A recent example shows the significance of the relationships that aspiring leaders develop: Former Rep.
"The folks serving now are his dear, dear friends;' says
But all those leadership dynamics - and the power inherent in the leadership positions - raise questions in every transition from legislator to lobbyist. Is the lobbying contract a thank you from a grateful business? Did the legislator take certain positions with an eye toward potential clients? The power wielded by Speakers and presidents means that those thinking about cashing in on their influence later "can pretty much build their book" of lobbying business while in office, says
Various legislative and lobbying records from recent years illustrate how those kind of questions arise.
> Former Rep.
> Former state
> Former Rep.
> As a legislator, Cannon worked with
As Speaker, Cannon helped to block legislation opposed by
Cannon also was a leading advocate of a bill in 2011 to move Florida Medicaid patients into private, managed-care coverage. One of his largest clients now is
Cannon did some lobbying for law firm GrayRobinson before he entered
"When I began the speakership, we had just been through the resignation of (former House Speaker)
Over the years,
Even supporters of that restriction acknowledge it isn't entirely effective, however, since a lawmaker who wants to become a lobbyist can still spend the intervening two years doing "strategic consulting" or "business development" or something else similar to lobbying.
Some question the need to impose extra hurdles on legislators who want to become lobbyists.
Others say the system is self limiting - parlaying legislative leadership experience into a lobbying contract is one thing, but success at lobbying is another.
Being a former legislator "may give them an open door initially because somebody recognizes their name," says
CHANGING DYNAMICS
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