Retired Reps. hand out big contributions

WASHINGTON, Oct. 21 (UPI) -- Two retired U.S. congressmen have made big contributions to others' campaigns despite "cooling off" rules, Politico reported Wednesday.

The regulations prohibit lobbying by former members of Congress for a year after their retirements. Allthough former Reps. Bud Cramer, D-Ala., and Jim McCrery, R-La., technically aren't lobbying politicians directly, they've donated tens of thousands of dollars to candidates, political action committees and party committees in the past nine months, the Washington publication reported.

Their new jobs have also afforded them key positions on Capitol Hill, Politico said. Cramer runs the lobbying firm Wexler & Walker, which advances the interests of 50 clients, while McCrery is a partner at another such firm, Capitol Counsel, whose customers include the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, the Real Estate Roundtable and Home Depot.

Unnamed congressional aides told Politico their activities seem meant to get around the Federal Election Commission "cooling off" rules, but Cramer disagreed, saying he's just trying to help lawmakers with "the best commonsense, pragmatic approaches."

McCreary says he doesn't think his campaign contributions are helping his clients, reportedly contending that his personal relationships with the members he has given to trump any campaign donations.