The revolving door rarely gets more audacious than this.
Illinois State Representative Marlow Colvin supported a new power plant in Illinois. He actually co-sponsored a bill in the House to allow the power plant.
Exelon is the dominant power company in Illinois, and doesn’t want companies besides Exelon selling electricity to Illinoisans. So Exelon is lobbying against the new power plant, and the company is very politically connected — the recently retired top lobbyist for Exelon subsidiary ComEd is Obama bundler Frank Clark. So whom did Com Ed hire to replace Clark?
State Rep. Marlow Colvin. Crain’s explains:
Commonwealth Edison Co.’s newly hired chief lobbyist in Springfield will have some explaining to do as he spins his former House of Representatives colleagues on the utility’s top priority this legislative session: killing the bill authorizing construction of a new coal-fired power plant downstate.
After all, Marlow Colvin, who recently resigned his South Side House seat to take the job as ComEd’s vice president of governmental affairs, was a co-sponsor of an old House-passed version of the controversial bill to require ratepayers to finance the Taylorville “clean coal” plant proposed by Omaha, Neb.-based Tenaska Inc.
Now, Mr. Colvin will be the lead man urging House members to vote against a bill he’s consistently supported.
In a statement, ComEd says Mr. Colvin’s stance has changed because the Tenaska measure — and circumstances — have changed since he voted for it.
After all, Marlow Colvin, who recently resigned his South Side House seat to take the job as ComEd’s vice president of governmental affairs, was a co-sponsor of an old House-passed version of the controversial bill to require ratepayers to finance the Taylorville “clean coal” plant proposed by Omaha, Neb.-based Tenaska Inc.
Now, Mr. Colvin will be the lead man urging House members to vote against a bill he’s consistently supported.
In a statement, ComEd says Mr. Colvin’s stance has changed because the Tenaska measure — and circumstances — have changed since he voted for it.
It’s like a 2-for-1 if you’re Exelon: You get a well-connected lobbyist, plus there’s one less vote against you!
