The Republican, who respresented the LA 6th district for 22 years is just following the money.
WASHINGTON - The dean of Louisiana's congressional delegation, Rep. Richard Baker, has decided to step down from Congress after 22 years to take a lucrative job in the private sector representing investors he has spent a career regulating.Just another arrogant selfish @#%^! of a politician. If Baker gave a damn about his constituents, he would not be leaving office in the middle of a term he was elected to serve. On the way out of office he is leaving taxpayers a bill for the special election needed to fill his seat. Such a wonderful parting gift. NOT!The announcement by the Baton Rouge Republican was not unexpected and makes him the third member of the state's seven-member House delegation in the past two months to resign or announce plans to resign.
Rep. Richard Baker has decided to step down from Congress after 22 years.Baker, 59, a senior member of the House Financial Services Committee will take the helm of the Managed Funds Association, the industry group that represents the $1.8 trillion hedge fund industry. As president and CEO, his salary and benefits package is expected to exceed $1 million a year.
Hat tip- James Joyner at OTB who writes about the reaction to Baker's resignation- That a congressman cashing in on his Rolodex barely raises eyebrows shows how low expectations have gotten.
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Comments (1)
I agree he should have comp... (Below threshold)1. Posted by Jim Addison | January 16, 2008 1:16 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
I agree he should have completed his term, or retired before it began, but he is hardly the first legislator to use the revolving door. Trent Lott did the same thing, I assume for the same reason: to avoid the new rules requiring a two-year period between serving in Congress and working as a lobbyist.
Some years ago Congress also changed the old rules which allowed retiring legislators to keep leftover campaign funds for personal use. Several lawmakers chose to retire before those rules went into effect.
Given the performance of Congresses led by both parties in recent decades, any inducement which results in long-serving members leaving is okay by me.
1. Posted by Jim Addison | January 16, 2008 1:16 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on January 16, 2008 01:16