The Hill interviewed Democratic lobbyist Jack Quinn for today's issue and after prodding him on his contributions to Democratic presidential candidates they took his temperature on the latest lobbying restrictions and on what changes he might make to how campaigns are financed. His answers help show the real breadth of support for full public financing of campaigns.

There more fuel for the Trent Lott speculation fire. Rumors are circulating that when the Senator vacates his post he'll join former Democratic Senator Jon Breaux in forming something of a lobbying empire.

As soon as Sen. Trent Lott (R-MI) announced that he would be stepping down as minority whip of the U.S. Senate, Washington tongues started wagging about where he might be job hunting. After all, by stepping down now, before December 31, he won’t be subject to a new Senate ethics rule that would keep former members of Congress away from lobbying for two years. Right now, he’ll only have to sit out a year before directly lobbying his former colleagues.

Another former aide to Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) rushes into the warm embrace of the lobbying sector.  Lesley Elliot, a former legislative aide, will lobby for online travel site Expedia on tax policy -- a favorite subject of McConnell's of late (via PageOne Kentucky). Hey, it's all about who you know.

Erik Prince, chairman of Blackwater, played (and paid) the Washington game to win millions in government contracts and keep oversight on the lax side. He'll play the game again to keep them in the face of allegations over Blackwater's conduct in Iraq. Hiring a stable of lobbyists, including one with ties to Jack Abramoff, to play Appropriations hardball, Prince isn't letting a little thing like a congressional hearing get in the way of business.

Here's what happens on Capitol Hill when you change the rules but not the game: a bunch of lobbyists and their legal advisors get together to hammer out a policy on tuna sandwiches. As new lobbying regulations go in to effect cutting into the lavish dinners and other events lobbyists had previously held to woo members of Congress, they're putting their heads together to find all the loopholes.