Ex-Lawmakers Reappear At State Capitol As Lobbyists

Sunday, May 27th 2007, 2:24 pm

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ When state lawmakers step down from their posts as House or Senate members, they often reappear at the state Capitol in a different capacity -- as paid lobbyists.

An Associated Press analysis of registered lobbyists shows 42 ex-legislators who make up more than 10 percent of the lobbying corps at the Capitol.

There currently are 375 lobbyists registered at the Capitol, down from 415 two years ago.

Current registered lobbyists include a former congressman and a former top leader of the House, three former top leaders of the Senate, as well as leaders of Oklahoma industry.

Their main purpose is to influence the content of thousands of bills that move through the Legislature each year, protecting the interests of companies or groups that hire them.

Five term-limited House members joined the ranks of lobbyists in 2007, including Republicans Bill Case, Doug Miller, James Newport and Wayne Pettigrew and ex-Democratic Representative Bob Plunk.