The revolving door has started going the other way in Washington, D.C., where government officials have a long history of cashing in their public service for high-paying lobbying jobs.

 

This year, though, a significant number of lobbyists have walked away from K Street and gone to work in critically important staff positions on Capitol Hill—for considerably less money.

 

The reasons vary for the turnabout. Idealists claim the opportunity to help the new Republican majority in the House push its agenda was too important to pass up. Cynics, on the other hand, argue the lobbyists were willing to make less now in order to make more than ever later, once they’ve amassed enough time and experience in either the House or Senate to return to even more powerful lobbying positions down the road.

 

Whatever the reason, the number of lobbyists in Congress more than doubled between the 111th and 112th Congress. And on average they’re earning a lot less.

 

They mostly work for Republicans—although that was not the case in the previous Congress—but the GOP number is proportionally larger than its new House majority would dictate. Sixty-two percent of these ex-lobbyists work for Republicans, who occupy 55% of the congressional seats. One hundred twenty-eight former lobbyists work in the 112^th Congress, compared to 60 in the 111^th.

 

Those who accepted staff positions in the House went from making an average of $238,000 a year to about $144,000.

 

In the Senate the average pay cut is even larger: $149,000.

-Noel Brinkerhoff

 

From Hired Guns to Hired Hands: A Center for Responsive Politics 'Revolving Door' Investigation (OpenSecrets.org)

Lobbyists Took $100K Cut in Pay to Work for Members of Congress (by Kevin Bogardus and Rachel Leven, The Hill)

From Hired Guns to Hired Hands: “Reverse Revolvers” in the 111th and 112th Congresses (by Sarah McKinnon Bryner, Center for Responsive Politics) (pdf)