Republican and Conservative political analysis and commentary

The Center for Public Integrity has a detailed article, "The Rise of 'Revolving-Door' Consultants'," that identifies political consulting firms that are both advising politicians' campaigns and lobbying elected officials - sometimes one and the same.

James Thurber, director of American University's Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies, has studied what he calls the "ethical dilemma" of political consultants who lobby, and believes more consultants are turning to lobbying to build up a year-round business.

In his chapter of the book, Shades of Gray: Perspectives on Campaign Ethics, Thurber writes that "hundreds and even thousands of people involved in campaigns later lobby politicians." His estimate includes individuals who are primarily lobbyists, but who dip in and out of campaign activity as fundraisers, treasurers, volunteers and advisors to candidates or political parties.

The tight relationship between legislators and lobbyists who serve as campaign treasurers was documented by the Center for Public Integrity in a 2005 report. The Center found that lobbyists had acted as treasurers for the campaign committees or leadership PACs of 79 members of Congress since 1998. Critics fear this sort of affiliation with a candidacy is at times rewarded with special access to the lawmaker.

Some of the 22 firms identified in the Center's analysis downplayed any connection between their consulting and lobbying work. A few said they were bit players in political campaigns, not major advisors who got close to candidates; others said they lobbied only on occasion.

One firm, Westhill Partners, said its employees registered as lobbyists only at the request of an overly cautious client, even though they contacted the news media to promote the client's position, not congressional offices.

The article lists 22 firms that both worked on campaigns in the 2004 election cycle and now do lobbying work.