From Legislators to Lobbyists

Editorial: Burke should lose law, lobby licenses

Burke has already manipulated the campaign and election system in Wisconsin by shifting some of his campaign money to his legal defense fund. He also may try to use campaign funds to pay restitution to the state, although state law seems to preclude this tactic.

A lawyer, Burke also faces the possibility of the state Supreme Court suspending or revoking his license to practice law.

We don’t think justice would be served in this case if Burke were allowed to keep his license.
Some would argue that losing the lobby and law licenses would prevent Burke from earning money so he could pay back the state for the illegal campaign.

But Brian Burke is a smart young man and surely he could find a job outside of the legal profession and halls of government to earn a living.

They had me right up until that final comment; surely he can find a job outside the halls ofgovernmentt.

Who has?

The pattern of behavior is, ex-lawmakers have no other marketable skills; they nearly all hang around and become lobbyists. It is simply, what they know -- or, more accurately, who they know.

Tony Earl, Bob Kasten, Steve Gunderson, Toby Roth, Steve Foti, Bob Welch, Brian Rude, Scott Klug, Marty Schreiber, and on, and on.

Throw a dart at the recent photo from a WI State Senate reunion, posed in chambers, and chances are better than 66% you'll stick an image of a lobbyist.

Former Congressman Mark Neumann. Now there's a guy who walks the walk and talks the talk. No way he feeds off the system.