The saddest people in Washington during the past two years of unrelenting legislative gridlock ply their trade on K Street. When there’s no hope of passing laws, there’s no reason to hire expensive lobbyists to push for them. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, lobbyist spending fell 12.5 percent in 2013, and is on target to decrease even more this year.

Some have speculated that lobbying has just gone underground into less-regulated spheres, funneled through nonprofits and “astroturf” organizations. But if that were the case, K Street firms, mired in a three-year slump, wouldn’t be so enthralled by the imminent transfer of Senate power to the GOP. “We’re very excited,” said one Republican lobbyist. “There’s going to be more activity … Corporations and trade associations affected by Washington power will be looking to invest in those policy decisions.”Lobby shops understand that pretty much all the major legislation emerging from any partnership between President Obama and the GOP will address the concerns of big business. Look at any to-do list and you’ll notice the pattern: trade deals, tax reform, construction of the Keystone XL pipeline, government appropriations (in particular, increasing funding for defense), etc. It’s party time on K Street again.Read More.Source: Salon/David Dayen