Ex-Congressmen Pat Meehan, Charlie Dent, and Ryan Costello move to lobbying ranks
Dent and Meehan, who each sat on the ethics committee, resigned last year before completing their terms, starting the clock sooner on their waiting periods.
The three
It's a legal practice, but one that ethics watchdogs say adds to public cynicism about
"What we fear and what we see a lot is that people are cashing in on their access and their relationships, not their expertise," added Hedtler-Gaudette. "You're there to serve your constituents and the public, you're not there to have some kind of lucrative post-
Former House members can double or triple their
Costello said he was using his knowledge of government and policy to continue working on issues he cares about.
"When I'm allowed to, I want to be able to impress on my colleagues and their staff why I think it's important and what I think the right policies are, but I can't do that unless I register," Costello said. "It's totally transparent, people know what I'm up to."
He said lobbying was not "trading on relationships" but was about helping clients understand "the policy-making process and why people think the way they do," and how to argue for your issue.
Meehan, a former federal prosecutor who resigned amid a sexual harassment scandal last year, is representing
Meehan said he is working with the company as an attorney, but registered as a lobbyist so he could seek support from sitting lawmakers as Almo appeals to the
"This is a matter for a business that is legitimately trying to preserve its strong position in the economy," Meehan said. "I don't think that's any kind of improper influencing. It's good representation."
Almo, in its filings with the trade representative, said it employs more than 650 people nationwide, including more than 250 at its
Meehan, who has created a company called Harvey Run Strategies, said he is also working as a contractor with Ridge Global, a consulting and insurance firm led by former Gov.
Sen.
Meehan resigned in
Dent, who is not a lawyer, abruptly resigned from his seat in
The clients listed on his disclosures all have a nexus with health care:
Dent was one of the most outspoken
"I provide support and guidance to our firm's clients. I have registered with three of those clients, one of which is a long-standing, distinguished corporate and philanthropic leader in the
He is also a
Costello, who did not run for reelection, has formed Ryan Costello Strategies, a government-affairs consulting firm. He has been advising advocates pushing for a carbon tax to fight climate change and for tougher gun laws, but does not have any agreements with potential lobbying clients, he said.
Costello said he preferred to be open about his lobbying plans rather than working in a "gray area" of consulting -- without registering.
"You look at your skill set, you look a the marketplace, and you try to do what you enjoy. I like the policy-making process," said Costello, a former county councilman, who added that as a former lawyer in private practice, "I have no interest in going back to billable hours." He said he hoped to work on transportation, telecommunication and technology issues, all of which he oversaw from his committee perches in
A footnote on his new firm's website notes that he does not currently lobby, but that his temporary ban expires
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