Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, June 10, 1994 TAG: 9406170085
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-10 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium
The 43-year-old lobbyist represents at least half a dozen clients, many of them with an intense interest in issues that fall under the jurisdiction of his father's tax-writing committee, arguably the most powerful panel on Capitol Hill.
The phenomenon of a lawmaker's spouse or child working as a lobbyist is far from unique. It is one Washington version of relatives going into the family business. But it is a career choice loaded with potential conflicts of interest.
``I've seen situations where there were clear conflicts,'' said Wright Andrews, a lobbyist active in a professional association that seeks to clean up lobbying's image.
``I've seen people get information nobody else could get - drafts, confidential stuff - and where people would use them merely because of the connection,'' he said.
Among notable family connections:
Robin Dole, daughter of Senate GOP Leader Bob Dole of Kansas, is chief lobbyist for Century 21 real estate.
Jamie L. Whitten, son of the former House Appropriations Committee Chairman of the same name, is a partner in a lobbying firm.
Michelle Clay is the daughter of Rep. William Clay, D-Mo., chairman of the House Post Office and Civil Service Committee. Among her lobbying clients are the Federation of Postal Police Officers and several city agencies in St. Louis, her father's home base.
Many of Cliff Gibbons' clients have a deep interest in issues before his father's committee, including health care, trade and taxes. In one example of the son's access, Cliff Gibbons introduced the chairman of Mutual Life Insurance Co. of New York to his father over lunch in the House members' exclusive dining room a few years ago.
Gibbons did not return a series of telephone calls over the past week.
His father, who presided over his first public committee session Thursday, said, ``My son does not lobby me. That's an understanding we've had for years, and that's the way it works.'' Gibbons took over as acting chairman after the indictment of Rep. Dan Rostenkowski, D-Ill.
by CNB