That’s basically the contention of Washington Examiner columnist Timothy Carney, who pins his thesis on a former Schumer staffer who went on to lobby for the hedge fund and private equity industries.

Three years ago, Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., leaned on hedge funds to lobby more. The funds soon hired his banking staffer as a lobbyist. She began raising money for Schumer. Now he’s championing financial regulation that would benefit these hedge funds. “Racket” might be the right word here.

Carney says all the lobbying paid off because new financial regulations making their way through Congress just serve to fill the coffers of larger hedge funds at the expense of big banks and smaller funds. He argues new laws forcing all hedge funds to register with the SEC will only hobble the smaller firms who can’t afford to comply. Competition will be further eroded, Carney says, if banks are banned from operating their own hedge funds. (He neglected to mention that lobbying didn’t really do too much for private equity firms who are steaming over proposed tax hikes on carried interest.)

But how did Schumer benefit from his January 2007 meeting with the hedgies? How does Schumer always benefit? Fundraising. Democrats in 2008 brought in $11.7 million from hedge funds, nearly twice the GOP haul.

Schumer’s Racket: Lobbyists and Hedge Funds [Washington Examiner]


Comments (31)

  1. Posted by PermaGuest | May 26, 2010 at 11:41 AM

    A Hill staffer left his job to become a lobbyist. How is this news?

  2. Posted by CoveredLong | May 26, 2010 at 11:44 AM

    I’m too tired to chirp any more – can we just cue the recording this time?

    -Overworked and underappreciated chirping cricket

  3. Posted by Anonymous | May 26, 2010 at 11:46 AM

    tits or gtfo, kouwe. your learning period is becoming rather tiresome for us.

  4. Posted by Pat N. MacRotch | May 26, 2010 at 11:48 AM

    Jim Blarney?

  5. Posted by close but no cigar | May 26, 2010 at 11:49 AM

    Wow, Chuck the Shmuck stepping over an ethical line to shake down a willing industry?

    I’m shocked, SHOCKED to find gambling in this establishment…

  6. Posted by Anonymous | May 26, 2010 at 11:58 AM

    Kouwe, I’m gunna Kouwe in your back pocket.

    Tim Tebow

  7. Posted by Anonymous | May 26, 2010 at 11:58 AM

    @3 Kouwe is doing just fine, give this bird more time in the nest

  8. Posted by Anonymous | May 26, 2010 at 12:00 PM

    Schumer is a just a politician, ties to lobbyists is what it takes to get the “milk”

  9. Posted by Anonymous | May 26, 2010 at 12:01 PM

    I wonder if Barney Frank fantasizes about Chuck like he does for Obama…..

  10. Posted by Anonymous | May 26, 2010 at 12:01 PM

    This guy thinks bankers are a bunch of cunts:

    http://nymag.com/news/politics/66188/

    Where is that dickhead who keeps railing at Wall Street for funding Obama?

  11. Posted by Anonymous | May 26, 2010 at 12:03 PM

    @10 that story was posted and discussed on monday, thanks for playing.

  12. Posted by Anonymous | May 26, 2010 at 12:07 PM

    @11 don’t be mean, ok. Be nice. Please be nice sir, please.

  13. Posted by Anonymous | May 26, 2010 at 12:13 PM

    Figures, Monday is my meth binge. What did I miss yesterday?

  14. Posted by Anonymous | May 26, 2010 at 12:15 PM

    I heard HandBridge has Schumer in their front pocket.

  15. Posted by Anonymous | May 26, 2010 at 12:20 PM

    the hedgies are so far in his pockets they rub his gonads when he walks

  16. Posted by kungfugrip | May 26, 2010 at 12:24 PM

    Is that Schumer in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?

  17. Posted by Doode | May 26, 2010 at 12:25 PM
  18. Posted by Anonymous | May 26, 2010 at 12:36 PM

    This hot weather makes my balls sag.

  19. Posted by Anonymous | May 26, 2010 at 12:37 PM

    Carmencita’s job is to hold the funnel in Chuck’s pocket

  20. Posted by Anonymous | May 26, 2010 at 12:38 PM

    here is a pic of Chuck’s money honey

    http://www.milkeninstitute.org/events/speakers/W3796.jpg

  21. Posted by Crustaceans in Connecticut | May 26, 2010 at 12:39 PM

    Beamers Day in the USA???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

  22. Posted by Yo Me | May 26, 2010 at 12:44 PM

    Politicians are all part of a racket. What’s your point Zach? tell me something i don’t already .

  23. Posted by Anonymous | May 26, 2010 at 12:49 PM

    Even before I noticed the author I knew this crap was the prebubescent child of Kouwe in chuck’s pants

  24. Posted by Pfluger the Barbarian | May 26, 2010 at 12:59 PM

    “And let me say this, to awwwl of the chattering class…. The American people really don’t care.”

    - Putz Schumer, chatterer with annoying accent

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEfICUoWKBw

  25. Posted by Anonymous | May 26, 2010 at 1:09 PM

    I’m scared and lonely and I need a hug.

    -Intern

  26. Posted by Anonymous | May 26, 2010 at 1:31 PM

    It’s time to get rid of this Senator from his senate seat and replace with a new guy regardless of his party affiliation.

    We, at office, decided to vote anyone running against him.

    He was quiet during GS bruhahaha.Maybe a recipient of GS money for politics.

  27. Posted by Manny Sullivan | May 26, 2010 at 1:40 PM

    O HAI,

    WHUT IZ BIG DEEL? THIS IZ HAO OLIGARKEY WURKZ, RIGHT?
    I RITEZ LITTEL BLOGZ ABOUT IT HERE: http://bit.ly/bjuTt0

    K THX BAI,
    MANNIE

  28. Posted by guest | May 26, 2010 at 1:43 PM

    Chuck you Son of a Bi…You’re my Chief Senate Bitch and I don’t like you moonlighting on my dime!!!!

    — John Mack

  29. Posted by Manny Sullivan is a Retard | May 26, 2010 at 2:13 PM

    MS @ 27 – WTF? Are you a joke I’m not getting?

  30. Posted by PermaGuest | May 26, 2010 at 2:43 PM

    @29 clearly you’re not doing enough drugs…

  31. Posted by Anonymous | May 26, 2010 at 3:17 PM

    Kouwe, time to shit or get off the pot.

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