Republican Jon Kyl of Arizona took a big pay cut when he briefly rejoined the Senate in late 2018, after a lucrative five-and-a-half year run at a leading Washington law and lobbying firm.
According to Kyl’s financial disclosure form, filed on Jan. 3, in 2017 and 2018 he earned about $1.9 million in total salary from Covington & Burling, LLP. Annual salaries for senators are $174,000, meaning he earned a bit under $58,000 for his nearly four-month return stint in Congress.
Arizona’s Republican governor, Doug Ducey, on Sept. 5 appointed Kyl to an open seat, to replace the late Sen. John McCain. Ducey cited Kyl’s knowledge of legislative process and familiarity with Arizona-specific issues, like water rights, for the unusual fill-in appointment. Kyl stepped down from the Senate on Dec. 31.
Kyl earlier served in the Senate from 1995-2013, the last five years as minority whip, the second-ranking Republican leadership post at the time. Kyl previously served eight years in the House.
After leaving the Senate in 2013 Kyl joined Covington in its Washington office. As a lobbyist at the firm, Kyl represented clients included from PhRMA and Qualcomm. A March 15, 2018, Covington news release mentions Kyl as part of a firm team that “secured a U.S. presidential order compelling Broadcom Limited to ‘immediately and permanently abandon’ its proposed hostile takeover of its client Qualcomm, Inc.”
Kyl severed ties with Covington & Burling upon his Senate appointment. He has not announced his next steps after his 2018 Senate service.
But even four or so months back in the chamber could be helpful if he opted for another Washington consulting position. About 45 senators started their service there after Kyl departed — and around 35 were there during his temporary appointment late last year. That’s on top of his relationships with senators from his original 18 years in the chamber.
Kyl did not immediately respond to request for comment.
