Burns takes job with Washington lobbying firm
Former senator to work for his former chief of staff, Giacometto
By The Associated Press
WASHINGTON - Former Sen. Conrad Burns, defeated for re-election last year, has a new job at a lobbying firm in Washington.
Burns will work for his former chief of staff, Leo Giacometto, at the firm Gage. Gage has lobbied for various Montana interests and several national technology companies, often making headlines for its connections to Burns and his staff.
The Republican senator's connections to lobbyists were an issue in his re-election bid as Democratic challenger Jon Tester pounded him on his ties to convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Burns had accepted about $150,000 in contributions from Abramoff, his clients and associates. He later gave that money away.
Burns won't be able to become a lobbyist just yet, as Senate rules prevent former members from lobbying their former colleagues for one year. The Senate is considering ethics legislation - partly prompted by the Abramoff scandal - that would bump that period to two years. A release issued by Gage said Burns will be a senior adviser to the firm, focusing on "increasing the firm's visibility and presence domestically and internationally to provide a greater reach of opportunities for Gage clients."
The release touts Burns' experience on the powerful Commerce and Appropriations Committees and says he has been praised as "one of the fathers of the modern Internet."
"Conrad's expertise, knowledge and background as a senior member of the United States Senate will be of great value to our clients," said Giacometto in the release. "Not only does he have in-depth knowledge and understanding of the United States government but through his international travels, the senator has developed key relationships that will bring the clients of our firm significant opportunities abroad."
The release also included a statement from Burns.
"I look forward to joining the talented team at Gage and I am excited to lend my knowledge of government, telecommunications and the international market to our clients," he said.
Gage was mentioned in a state legislative audit of University of Montana research programs last year. The auditors said the university needs to more closely monitor lobbying deals after one program was largely paid for with about $4 million in federal money secured by Burns in the 2003, 2004 and 2005 federal budgets. Gage lobbied for the program in Washington.
Giacometto has a long career in Montana Republican politics. The rancher and former state legislator served in former Gov. Judy Martz's administration as one of the two Montana representatives on the regional Northwest Power Planning Council, a Cabinet-level position.
He resigned from that post in March 2002, saying rumor and innuendo about his actions in the aftermath of a drunken-driving crash that killed state House Majority Leader Paul Sliter made him a distraction for Martz.
Martz's former chief policy adviser, Shane Hedges, was intoxicated and driving the car in which Sliter was a passenger. Giacometto was one of the first people on the scene.