Former Staffers of Rep. Bill Huizenga Transition Into Lobbying Roles
In a notable trend within political employment, numerous individuals from the office of Republican Representative Bill Huizenga have transitioned into lobbying roles. Since 2011, when Huizenga began representing Michigan’s 4th District, at least a dozen of his staff have either been lobbyists or have moved on to become lobbyists.
Lobbyists, who must register with the federal government, are required to disclose their clients. Public filings indicate that Huizenga’s former staff members have engaged in lobbying activities for sectors such as finance, insurance, and pharmaceuticals.
Among those who worked closely with Huizenga is Jon DeWitte, who served as his chief of staff for over ten years. DeWitte left the congressional office in 2022 and is currently a lobbyist and vice president of government affairs for Travelers Insurance. Travelers has reportedly lobbied Congress on various issues, including health care, trade, opioid regulations, taxes, and insurance matters, according to a disclosure from earlier this year.
Another former staffer, Marlis McManus, who was Huizenga’s deputy chief of staff, has joined Vanguard as a lobbyist. As reported by Heartland Signal in 2023, McManus is actively lobbying on issues concerning investment funds and equity markets. Prior to her tenure with Huizenga, she was involved in lobbying for the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies.
This pattern of transitioning between governmental and private-sector positions is often referred to as revolving-door politics, which critics argue could lead to conflicts of interest and increased corporate influence over legislative processes.
Additional former staffers include Palmer Rafferty, now a lobbyist for TransUnion, and Martin Van Valkenburg, who has lobbied for an aerospace company. Several companies represented by these lobbyists fall under congressional oversight and regulation. Notably, Rep. Huizenga serves on the Financial Services Committee, which has jurisdiction over banking and insurance sectors.
Furthermore, at least seven other former staffers of Huizenga have ventured into lobbying, including a senior legislative assistant now representing pharmaceutical giants such as Bayer, Eli Lilly, and Novartis.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has highlighted Huizenga as one of the Republicans at risk in the upcoming election. His challenger for the seat is Democratic state Senator Sean McCann.
The post Huizenga’s revolving door: at least a dozen staffers became lobbyists appeared first on American Journal News.
—
Read More Kitchen Table News
Comments are closed.