DeLay says goodbye
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DeLay says goodbye
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MARK AUSTIN THOMAS: The former House Majority leader Tom Delay retires from Congress today. He faces trial for money-laundering and he’s tied to the Jack Abramoff lobbying scandal. There’s been a lot of talk about Delay’s legacy, especially his talent for placing Republican in top-shelf lobbying jobs. Marketplace’s Scott Tong says its not clear if that legacy will last.
SCOTT TONG: At least twice, industry trade groups have hired Democrats and then faced retribution from Tom Delay. Once, he held up a bill a group was pushing. And once, he took an industry provision out of a bill.
Ivan Adler is a lobbyist headhunter.
IVAN ADLER: It’s come up with motion pictures industries association. It’s come up with electronics industries alliance.
As the influence industry’s gone Republican, more of its campaign money has flowed to the party. But things may be shifting. Lobbyist Aaron Houston.
AARON HOUSTON: If I were a trade group I’d be looking to hedge my bets, to prepare for whatever November’s elections will bring.
Trade groups for the IT industry, grocery stores and CEOs have hired Democrats lately. So have Viacom and Amgen and one historically Republican lobbying firm.
Joe Crea writes for the Legal Times.
JOE CREA: The Federalist group — big big big republican firm — they’ve been hiring a lot of democrats lately.
Still, we’re five months from election day and most big-time lobbying shops remain solidly Republican.
In Washington, I’m Scott Tong for Marketplace.
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