Yep, the one on the right is a Republican congressman (from Texas)To many Americans who have ever heard of him, it looks like tubby freshman Blake Farenthold, an ex-Hate Talk Radio host, is on a very downward spiral career wise. Although his East Texas district-- TX-27: Corpus Christie, Victoria, Port Lavaca, Bay City-- was redrawn to make it safe Republican territory (it's now has an R+13 PVI and only gave Obama 38% in 2012 and reelected Farenthold with 63.6% in November) he barely beat out Solomon Ortiz in 2010-- 50,954 (47.85%) to 50,155 (47.10%)-- and could be vulnerable if the Democrats take the district seriously in 2016. Farenthold is generally seen as an extremist lunatic who is also an ineffective clown. His latest bout with the media involves a sexual harassment lawsuit that has stomachs turning from the Gulf to the Beltway. Court documents filed against him on Monday portray him as an alcoholic mess-- which his Texas congressional colleagues have already uncomfortably noticed-- who admitted to another employee that he had "sexual fantasies" and "wet dreams" about another staffer. She's suing him for creating a hostile work environment, sexually harassing her and then firing her after she complained to Farenthold's chief of staff, Bob Haueter, who Californians remember well-- if not fondly-- as a former bungling operative for corrupt Congressman Buck McKeon. This kind of behavior isn't even acceptable among many Texas Republicans.But if the Democrats do get it together-- a big if-- or if Farenthold is successfully challenged in a primary, a new report , Selected Privileges and Courtesies Extended to Former Members of Congress, from the Congressional Research Service included some news that could cheer him up if he's defeated in 2016.
These privileges include access to the floor of the chamber where they served, though senators who have not served in the House are traditionally granted House access as well. However, that access is revoked if the former member becomes a lobbyist or an “agent of foreign principal,” meaning someone who advocates on behalf of foreign governments, political parties or organizations.If those lawmakers are visiting the floor, they can also park in House and Senate parking lots. They can still access House and Senate gyms after they leave as well, though for a fee. Congressional Research Service reports are also available to former members, though they can no longer request that the CRS conduct original research on their behalf.Former members of Congress can also obtain a permanent identification card from the clerk of the House or the Senate sergeant-at-arms, and become members of the U.S. Association of Former Members of Congress.
And even Farenthold, who is generally thought of as the unkempt schlubb in the ducky pajamas who registered the website BlowMe.org, could become a K-Street lobbyist. Remember, even if ex-Members can't lobby on the House floor-- at least not technically-- many do and even more do so in the House gym. Or, he could always go back to Hate Talk Radio... which thrives in Texas like nowhere else in America.