An article in the Politico today describes just how much money former Capitol Hill staffers can make working as lobbyists on K Street. The salaries are pretty shocking.

While dozens of lawmakers and senior aides are trading their congressional badges for lobbying registrations, some holdouts are resisting the call--even with salary offers of $350,000 to $500,000.

These stubborn governing junkies are among the most coveted by K Street. They are the insiders’ insiders and policy whizzes, whom top officials at lobbying shops and major corporations believe could add significant talent and expertise to their already deep benches.

It still shocks me when people talk about buying access in such frank terms. The article describes the trade--cash for access--in a matter-of-fact way, as if it's completely unsurprising.

For lobbying shops, a big risk in hiring a congressional aide is betting they can perform on the outside as well as they have on the inside.

But "performing" on behalf of an entirely different cause.