Life is hard out there for highly-paid Washington lobbyists:
The summer of a lobbyist might feature a jaunt to Martha’s Vineyard, a weekend getaway to the posh Greenbrier resort in West Virginia and excursions for sipping pinot in Portland and fly-fishing in Jackson Hole, Wyo.
It sounds like a tranquil, fanciful lifestyle, but downtime this is not.
The grueling pace of fundraising, even on an off-cycle year such as this one, does not slow as members of Congress look to fend off potential challengers and post big stockpiles of cash each quarter. The threat of outside money from super PACs looms, and lobbyists remain a major target of reliable campaign cash.
When Congress is in session, K Street denizens can book each day with breakfasts, coffees, lunches, receptions, ballgames and late-night soirees. And in preparation for summer respites, the invites are pouring in for out-of-town extravaganzas.
