Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
After spending a record $40 million in a failed bid for the U.S. Senate, Rick Lazio was hired Wednesday by a group of chief executives representing some of the nation's leading financial companies.
Lazio was named president and CEO of the Financial Services Forum, a public policy group that represents such companies as Citigroup, the Bank of New York, The Goldman Sachs Group, Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, American Express and FleetBoston.
He succeeds George J. Vojta, who will continue to serve on the board of directors.
Speculation about Lazio's future began immediately after his 12-point loss last November to Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton. He said Wednesday that he had "several great offers" for jobs, all from companies in the private sector.
The former Republican congressman from Long Island will be responsible for the overall operations of the Forum. The appointment, which is effective July 1, will have Lazio dividing time between the Forum's New York offices and its headquarters in Washington.
"My family has gotten used to that," Lazio said, referring to his four terms in the House of Representatives.
He called the job a "great opportunity for me to continue to work for financial services modernization in this country and advance the goal of open and competitive financial markets here and around the globe."
Lazio served as former deputy majority whip and assistant majority leader in the House and was a member of both the House Commerce and Banking committees.
Philip J. Purcell, the Forum's chairman and chairman of Morgan Stanley, said Lazio has a "unique combination of leadership, political experience and understanding of the financial services industry. He has been a steadfast friend of investors and savers."
A spokesman for the Forum declined to say what Lazio would be paid, but a source close to the former congressman said it will be "at least $250,000."
Lazio was also invited to consider running for Nassau County Executive, although that would have required him to move his wife and two children from their home in Brightwaters, in Suffolk County.
"I was very flattered by their interest in me," Lazio said. "But I thought this was the best opportunity for me and my family. It builds logically on my experience in Congress."
Lazio vacated his House seat last year in order to challenge the former first lady for the U.S. Senate seat. Lazio, who entered the race in late May after New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani dropped out, spent $39.9 million, the most ever by a losing Senate candidate.
He said that while the campaign ended with a debt of about $3 million, much of that has been paid off. He said the campaign has reduced its number of creditors from between 110 and 120 to less than 20.
Lazio demurred when asked if he would ever run for public office again.
"I'm fully committed to the Forum," he said. "That's unequivocal."
ME TOO! I HOPE HE MAKES SOME BUCKS, HE NEEDS THEM!
Goodness, some savvy Republican businessmen took care of the man who convinced Hillary that she needed to raid Al Gore's Florida campaign funds in order for her to win in New York...
Gonna miss him though. I hope he runs for public office again.
Good Luck Rick Lazio! I had a feeling that he was heading towards the private sector. I met him at several rally's and he seemed like a decent, honest person who truly cared about the folks in N.Y. unlike......
Used to be ya took a gov job when ya failed in the private sector. Now you loose big time to a criminal & rewarded for failing. Wew're living in an age of insanity.
He deserves the best. He is an honest and decent man. I'm sure this will not be the last of Rick Lazio in public office.
(Lazio:) I thought this was the best opportunity for me and my family. It builds logically on my experience in Congress."
The Financial Services Forum is a lobbying group.
Lazio is prohibited by Congressional rules from becoming a lobbyist for a specified period of time after leaving Congress.
Lazio is violating Congressional rules by taking this job.
Judith Hope! I didn't know you were a freeper.
Judith Hope! I didn't know you were a freeper
Who the He** is Judith Hope?
BTW - I am: Tuco Benedito Pacifico Juan Maria Ramirez known as “the Rat”
You can do better that that, Sidney.
The Financial Services Forum is a lobbying group.
Hey, Taco! I thought you were laying low, since Bush won the presidency without California?
Let's see. Taco says the Financial Forum is a lobbying group.
What else has Taco said?
That Lazio would have to drop out of the Senate race in August 2000 due to the SEC investigation (in which he was cleared). Wrong.
Taco likes Hillary Clinton. He wouldn't admit it, but he did everything he could to trash Lazio.
Do you have a big nekkid picture of Hillary on the back of the bathroom door?
You can do better that that, Sidney.
At least that reply didn't cost me $2,500 (Sid's payment to Drudge).
Taco likes Hillary Clinton. He wouldn't admit it, but he did everything he could to trash Lazio
It's interesting that the Bush Administration didn't offer Lazio a position.
Gore has a better chance of getting a position in the Bush Administration than Lazio.
"GOOD GUY", indeed!
Being in the finance sector myself, I welcome him and wish him luck. He deserves a good consolation prize for losing to that shrew. A selfish part of me, though, wants him to run and recapture that House seat that went Democratic without him. It'd be his for the taking.
Lazio is violating Congressional rules by taking this job.
Pal, do you have gainful employment outside of popping on here every blue moon and making asinine, contrarian comments? I'm sure this financial group, if indeed it is a "lobbying" group, knows the rules better than you do. If it were a violation, they wouldn't have hired him.
I'm sure this financial group, if indeed it is a "lobbying" group, knows the rules better than you do. If it were a violation, they wouldn't have hired him.
Do you know the definition of lobbying?
"Gore has a better chance of getting a position in the Bush Administration than Lazio."
On this point, you are quite correct.
More on this potential development later...
Add me to the list of well-wishers for Rick! Those of us who volunteered for his campaign and met him in person several times know that he is a man of integrity. I think it took incredible bravery on his (and his family's) part to go up against the sleazy Hillary Clinton Machine in his bid for the NY Senate seat. I must admit I'd also like to see Rick run again for public office in the near future...
ping!
Glad Lazio got his legs under him before Xlinton and Goron did. Shows he's a topnotch guy with a good sense of direction. And being employed by the big-money guys doesn't hurt his prospects for launching another campaign.
Tuco raises an interesting point about lobbying, but I'm sure Rick and his organization are well aware of the laws. They are not people who would compromise their position. I'm sure all is well.
Here's the picture I took that made the 2hr. wait in the rain post Inauguration worth the wait.
Here's the one I have posted in my office.
It gives that warm fuzzy (shaking/quaking) feeling to all those hildebeast lovers who surround the place..
Lazio has a lot of which to be proud.
Because he ran such a good race (perception-wise - and he was listed as "tied" with HRC in Zogby's poll) against Hillary, she was convinced to tap into Bill Clinton's magic-money-campaign-machine at a time when Gore needed those funds for his Florida campaign.
If Gore had been able to spend those millions of Dollars in Florida, he would be President today. Thanks to Hillary's mistake, due to Lazio, Bush is thankfully our President today instead.
In today's NYPost:
LAZIO LANDS TOP JOB AT THINK TANK
Six months after losing to Hillary Clinton, former Rep. Rick Lazio yesterday landed a high-paying job in the private sector.
Lazio has been named president and chief executive officer of the Financial Services Forum, a public-policy group made up of the CEOs of 21 top financial-services companies.
Lazio, who lives in Suffolk County with his wife and two daughters, will reportedly earn at least $250,000 annually, and be responsible for the overall operations of the forum, which represents such companies as Morgan Stanley, American Express, Citigroup and J. P. Morgan.
Lazio said it's "possible but unliely" he will lobby Congress for the group when the one-year ban on lobbying by former members ends.
by Kenneth Lovett
See reply #25
See reply #25
!
unliely = unlikely (my typo, not the Post's)
Lovely pictures!! He's someone you would want to bring home to mother - isn't he?
Thanks for the article.
Thanks for the article, firebrand!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
[
Top
|
Latest Posts
|
Latest Articles
|
Self Search
|
Add Bookmark
|
Post
|
Abuse
|
Help!
]
FreeRepublic , LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794 Forum Version 2.0a Copyright © 1999 Free Republic, LLC |