U.S. House: CLC Urges Reps. Shuler & Emerson to Resign or Recuse Themselves Due to Conflicts of Interest

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Today, the Campaign Legal Center urged Rep. Heath Shuler (D-NC) and Rep. Jo Ann Emerson (R-MO) to resign from Congress or at the very least recuse themselves from all official matters related to the issues of energy or the environment and broader matters like the “fiscal cliff” due to conflicts of interest created by the jobs they will start when they leave office.

In January, Rep. Shuler will join Duke Energy as its vice president of federal affairs and Rep. Emerson will become President and CEO of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA). Both organizations have high-profile lobbying operations in Washington and spend millions of dollars annually lobbying Congress.

“It is hard to imagine a more clear cut conflict of interest.   Representative Shuler and Representative Emerson, in their waning days in office, face issues that will impact their future employers,” said Meredith McGehee, Campaign Legal Center Policy Director. “Out of respect for the institution and their constituents, Representative Shuler and Representative Emerson should resign immediately. If they don't resign, they should, at a minimum, recuse themselves from voting. Landing lucrative jobs based on lobbying former colleagues sadly has a long tradition in Washington. But at the very least Members leaving public service to cash in through the revolving door should not be in the business of serving two masters while still holding office.”

To read the letter to Representative Emerson, click here. To read the letter to Representative Shuler, click here.