[Tempest]

Third party revolt is the only real option.

[kbennkc]

Who started this practice of treating of lobbyists like child molesters? I know it was a favorite theme of Juan McCain , while nearly everyone of his advisers had worked as a lobbyist..
There are too many taking up his demagoguery of "pass this law before I steal again".

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

According to the SL Trib, in past and currently he has been a lobbyist for:

1-800-Contacts (Lee acted as company atty at the same time)

EnergySolutions (nuclear services company, which operates a radioactive waste landfill in Utah.) (Lee also worked for them at the time.)

Utah League of Credit Unions

Management & Training Corp. (a private prison company)

A number of energy interests, including utilities and the Utah Association of Energy Users.

On the federal level, Stokes has primarily lobbied for Weber County, Weber State University and a small defense contractor, Engineering and Software Systems Solutions, for which he focused on federal funding and earmarks.

In 1994, Stokes served as chairman of the Weber County Commission.

Before becoming a lobbyist in 1999, Stokes served as the executive director of the Utah Republican Party.

[brothers4thID]

Knee jerk reactions based on labels like “lobbyist” aren’t going to get us anywhere. Lobbyists aren’t all the spawn of Satan.

[Fred]

Can’t wait for all the TPers to post making excuses for Lee.

[sodpoodle]

Lobbyists are Washington DC’s Welcome Wagon!!!

They know more than elected officials - ‘knowlege is power’.

As long as newly elected representatives and Senators are alert and principled....they should hire the most experienced people available. Trust but verify!

I do believe, however, that staffers should be term-limited i.e., if their boss is not re-elected - they should be chucked out and not recycled.