K Street's "Queen of Earmarks," Letitia White is coming under the microscope again for the lucrative career she's built as a former staffer to Rep. Jerry Lewis who went on to lobby the congressman.

The article highlights the sudden salary cut White took prior to leaving Lewis' office to join a lobbying firm, a cut that put her just below the point that would have automatically banned her from lobbying her former employer for one year. White's move to the lobby firm owned by former legislator - and friend to Lewis - Bill Lowery proved profitable for all involved. White used her close relationship to Lewis to rack up defense contractor clients seeking his ear, and Lewis received a flood of contributions both to his campaign and his political action committee.

What struck me was the quote at the end from defense consultant Mike Matton: "And I'm kind of sad to see all of this in the press because there's been nothing illegal that I know of that's been reported, but just the perception in the eye of the beholder outside the Beltway, people who don't understand the lobbying business."  Ah, yes those "outside the Beltway" people, they never seem to understand how important it is for wealthy interests to be able to buy access to favorable legislation and profitable earmarks.  If only they understood the lobbying business, I'm sure the gross conflict of interest wouldn't bother them as much....