Hastert's New Job

Congratulations to Kate Thayer for scooping the Chicago Tribune and the Chicago Sun-Times on Dennis Hastert's new part-time job as a consultant and "strategic adviser" for Naperville's Goeken Group Corporation. Too bad it ended up on Page 3B of today's Northwest Herald.

Should it have been on Page 1?

I've wondered why he resigned and left Congress in mid-term. Was it health? Personal problems? More time with family? He couldn't wait until the end of his term? Was he mad that Pelosi got his place in the spotlight?

Is a retired Congressman permitted to lobby within the first two years after leaving Congress? Or does that apply only to staffers and other government employees?

Good job, Kate.