Editorial Illustration; House's revolving door keeps spinning

These former lawmakers now push agendas as lobbyists on the current Legislature.

By 2009, perhaps we'll have a fresh batch of lawmakers-turned-lobbyists unleashed on Austin, using connections at the Capitol to score lucrative deals for their clients.

In Texas, there's no law against going directly into lobbying after serving in the Texas House or Senate.

In fact, six representatives who served in 2005 have lobbying contracts this year that each could potentially be worth $100,000. (The Texas Ethics Commission makes lobbyists declare a maximum and minimum to their contract, not the exact amount.)

The minimum and maximum value of their contracts, including major clients, include:

• Allen: $395,000 to $835,000, including at least $50,000 for AT&T, Public Strategies, GEO Group, Inc. and Jones Lang LaSalle

• Baxter: $225,000 to $350,000, including at least $150,000 from the Texas Cable and Telecom Association and $50,000 from the Alliance of Retail Markets

• Luna: $20,000 to $320,000, including potential contracts of $10,000 with AT&T, HEB and WTU Retail Energy

• Goodman: $110,000 to $245,000, including at least $50,000 from the Texas Association of Independent Child Welfare Administrators and at least $25,000 from TXU Corp.

• Casteel: $95,000 to $200,000, including at least $50,000 from the Texas Association of School Boards

• Hupp: $55,000 to $145,000, including at least $25,000 from a Houston real estate law firm

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