Republicans often say that regulations kill jobs, but let’s not forget all the jobs created by regulations — lobbying and consulting jobs for the bureaucrats, politicians, and aides who wrote the new rules.
“Mike Collins, a longtime aide to Sen. Tom Udall (D-N.M.), is leaving Capitol Hill to join the K Street ranks at Mehlman Castagnetti Rosen & Thomas,” Megan Wilson at The Hill reports.
Here’s the key part:
Collins, who also served as the deputy chief of staff and legislative director for Udall in the House and Senate, led the way in the office’s effort to reform the nation’s toxic chemical regulations.
Udall ultimately became a chief architect — working together with Republican Sen. David Vitter (La.) — of the Toxic Substance Control Act.
Now look at Mehlman Castagnetti’s client list, and you’ll spot a handful of companies that have lobbied on TSCA, and so clearly are very affected by the law. Procter & Gamble is a client, and they lobbied the Senate on the bill.
Same with the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers.
For analogous examples, see Barney Frank, Michael Oxley, Ben Nelson, and a good chunk of the staffers who wrote Obamacare and Dodd-Frank.
Increasing the size of government increases the value of former government officials.
