Baron Hill’s Lobbyist Connections Slammed By Rival
Today, there are congressional primary elections in Indiana, North Carolina and Ohio. One of the more interesting races is between incumbent Blue Dog Baron Hill, and progressive Democrat John Bottorf.
One of Bottorf’s more biting lines of criticism against Representative Hill has to do with Hill’s close connection with the lobbying profession. Bottorf writes, “Do you know what Baron Hill did when he lost in 2004? He was a lobbyist. Do you know what job his former Chief of Staff has in Washington right now? He’s a lobbyist.”
But what would Bottorf do differently? Bottorf promises, “When I’m your Congressman, I’m slamming shut the revolving door of lobbying permanently in this office. Every staff member will sign a pledge to the constituents of Southern Indiana that they will never seek a position as a lobbyist after they serve in the office of the 9th Congressional District.”
Of course, such promises are easy to make… while aides still have their jobs. If Bottorf makes his way into the U.S. House of Representatives, he and his aides will merit a good deal of scrutiny, just like everyone else in Congress.
