Politics

Former Michigan Congressman Joins Lobbying Firm

By Paul Blumenthal

The lobbying firm Dickstein Shapiro announced the hiring of former Rep. Peter Hoekstra (R-MI) to its Washington team.

Hoekstra will join a team that includes former Speaker Dennis Hastert,  former Sen. Tim Hutchinson, and former Rep. Al Wynn.

The press release announcing Hoekstra's hire touts his experience on Capitol Hill: "Known as the Republican 'point man on counterterrorism' and as former chair of the House Intelligence Committee, he is among a handful of high-ranking government officials who have unmatched insight into the U.S. intelligence community and our national security."

Hoekstra served as chairman of the House Intelligence Committee from 2004 to 2006 and also served as a high-ranking member of the House Education & Labor Committee from 1995 to 2001.

Hoekstra retired from Congress to pursue a run for the Republican nomination for Governor of Michigan. Hoekstra finished second in the Republican primary behind Rick Snyder.

Dickstein Shapiro is a major lobbying firm with over $6 million reported in lobbying expenses in 2009 and over $5 million through the first three quarters of 2010.

Clients of Dickstein Shapiro include DuPont, Intel, Lorillard Tobacco, US Telecom Association, and the for-profit college companies Bridgepoint Education and ITT Educational Services.

Full post as published by Sunlight Foundation on February 01, 2011 (boomark / email).