Rep. Jo Ann Emerson of Missouri, who won easy re-election to her 10th term in Congress in November, is expected to officially leave office soon to take over a job as head of one of Washington’s largest and most influential trade associations.
According to public records, she is one of five outgoing members of the House of Representatives—four Republicans and one Democrat—to take lobbying jobs as the new Congress begins its work.
A public interest group in Washington says Emerson’s case is the personification of the revolving door in the nation’s capital. And a close look at her career helps explain why.
She is a Washington native who in 1975 married a lobbyist named Bill Emerson. He went on to become a Republican congressman from Missouri’s 8th Congressional District, which encompasses much of the southeastern part of the state, with Cape Girardeau as its largest population center. During Bill Emerson’s term in office, his wife became a lobbyist, first for the restaurant industry and later as a spokeswoman for the American Insurance Industry Association.
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Post by: Drew Griffin and David Fitzpatrick Filed under: Congress • Special Investigations Unit |
In the wake of a shooting at Lone Star College in Houston, Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee and Texas State Sen. Dan Patrick debate a proposal that would permit concealed guns on campuses in Texas.
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Post by: Anderson Cooper Filed under: Gun Control • Guns • School Shooting |
Jason Wu, the man who created Michelle Obama's inaugural gowns, tells Anderson Cooper about his excitement and staying grounded.
"I always say, to do something like that, you have to sort of back it up with more hard work," says Wu about being chosen by the first lady and leveraging the opportunity.
The designer is thankful for the publicity, but prefers not to be in the spotlight. "I've always reminded myself who I am and what I'm here to do," says Wu. "I came to New York to be a fashion designer...at the end of the day, I'm a dress maker. I'm not a celebrity...it's very rare I do TV. I feel comfortable behind the scenes because that's where I have total control. I know exactly what I'm doing. I feel the most comfortable backstage at my shows." FULL POST
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Post by: Anderson Cooper Filed under: Inauguration Day |
Amanda Vasquez describes the panic she and other students at Lone Star College experienced during a shooting on the Houston, Texas campus.
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Post by: Anderson Cooper Filed under: Guns • School Shooting |
NBC's Bob Costas tells Anderson Cooper he has a "gut feeling" Notre Dame football player Manti Te'o let the hoax about his girlfriend continue because the story was "playing out sympathetically."
Hear Costa's perspective on Lance Armstrong's confession:
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Post by: Anderson Cooper Filed under: Sports |
Anderson Cooper tackles the Beyoncé lip-syncing controversy and comes up singing her tune on the RidicuList.
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Post by: Anderson Cooper Filed under: The RidicuList |
CNN's Randi Kaye reports on styles worn by presidential wives for inaugurations throughout history.
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Post by: Randi Kaye Filed under: Inauguration Day • Michelle Obama |
Richard Blanco is the first Latino and openly gay man to deliver the inaugural poem. Anderson Cooper asks him about the honor, his inspiration for the poem, and the significance of being part of President Obama's swearing-in ceremony. The president made history by acknowledging the struggle for gay rights as part of America's civil rights tradition in his inaugural address.
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Post by: Anderson Cooper Filed under: Gay Rights • Inauguration Day • President Obama |
Watch highlights of the ceremony and celebrations that commemorated the 57th Presidential Inauguration on January 21, 2013.
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Post by: Anderson Cooper Filed under: Inauguration Day • President Obama |
Paul Begala, Margaret Hoover, Alex Castellanos and Van Jones debate the politics of the president's inaugural speech.
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Post by: Anderson Cooper Filed under: Inauguration Day • President Obama • Raw Politics |
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