Lobbyist Merry Go Round: Wohlgemuth Takes A Turn

[crispini]

Ah yes, one of the GOP's most poisonous flowers from Central Texas takes an hors d'oevre from the lobbying platter. And we thought we'd seen the last of her when Chet Edwards drove a stake through her heart. Apparently not.

(No, I don't think I could fit any MORE metaphors in that paragraph, thanks for asking!)

Texas politics: Lobbyist's new vision on CHIP

Former state Rep. Arlene Wohlgemuth has signed up to lobby for the Texas Optometric Association, about a month after she recommended restoring vision and eyeglass benefits to the Children's Health Insurance Program, according to the Houston Chronicle.

The Republican from Burleson masterminded cuts to that program in 2003 as the state faced a $10 billion budget deficit. Then, in December, a special committee she chaired — her last job before leaving office — released a report recommending the restoration of those benefits.

Wohlgemuth told the Chronicle that she had made that recommendation before she gave up her House seat to run in an unsuccessful congressional race and before she decided to become a lobbyist.

She told the paper that the optometrists had hired her not to lobby for the restoration of the vision benefits but to work on regulatory issues related to the sunset review of the Texas Optometry Board.

She will earn between $25,000 and $50,000 for her work, the paper reported.

http://www.statesman.com/news/content/shared/tx/legislature/stories/01/24legebriefs.html

[GOPisEvil]

1. Well, at least she's using her powers for something positive.

I'll keep my eyes open for flying pigs...

[Imalittleteapot]

2. "…before she decided to become a lobbyist."

Bull.
Between 25 and 50 thousand? Bull. Probably closer to $100,000.

Politicians do stuff like this and hope we won't notice. Well, we did Arlene. Fortunately for you, most Texans don't care because most Texans vote for your lying/cheating party.

[liveoaktx]

3. So, let's see. Wolgemoose cuts benefits, then after she LOSES

she decides to recommend putting them back within about a month of going to work for the Texas Optometric Association. her background is as a Flight Instructor before that, surely that makes her uniquely suited as opposed to, say, an ATTORNEY, to work on regulatory issues.

I live in that district, and while I'm not thrilled over Chet, I'm really glad Moose isn't in.