One of the many jokes heard around the State Capitol last Tuesday night when the Republican Party took control of the Tennessee House of Representatives was how many lobbyists would now quietly saddle up next to GOP lawmakers and say, "I was with you all along."
While state senators and state representatives may smirk at many of those who will make that claim, law firms and their clients are reassessing their rosters to make sure they are covered before the next legislative session is gaveled in next year.
Several attorneys at some of Nashville's biggest law firms have told NashvillePost.com that their firms will be registering some partners as new lobbyists this year simply because they are Republican.
"We don't want to be caught flat-footed," said one lawyer, who asked not to be identified. "We have some people that go down to the legislature that are well-known Democrats. To make sure our clients don't get shut out at the door with their legislative concerns, it may be best to send someone who is a Republican."
Another attorney told NashvillePost.com that his firm is looking at hiring individuals who maybe haven't lobbied in the past, but have a good understanding of the legislature and are known by lawmakers to be Republicans.
"It's a buyer's market if you are a Republican," he said.
The fact that the firms are looking at their rosters and making decisions on political affiliation is not uncommon. When Democrats took control of U.S. Congress a few years back, Washington, D.C. firms made sure the people going to talk to the powers had not worked against those legislators.
Republicans in Washington did the same in 1994, garnering much more attention than they wanted when it became public that there was an organized effort called the "K Street Project" to get more GOP lobbyists in power positions. K Street is a street in D.C. that is a desirable address for lobbyists.
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