A reader contacted us about former Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle's likely nomination as Secretary of Health & Human Services. Daschle is currently special policy advisor at Alston + Bird and former Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole is special counsel at the firm. Here's our reader's comment:

"Good news for Tom Daschle and the country.

Really bad news for Alston + Bird and Bob Dole.

Alston + Bird's very large healthcare lobbying practice is about to lose a number of its members to the HHS and those who don't chose to go into government service will have to deal with the ethical restrictions that will then be placed on Senator Daschle and any other A+B lawyers who move to HHS. All of them then will be barred from acting on issues that affect their former clients.

First Bob Dole's wife lost her job, now he's lost a large chunk of his lobbying practice.

Bummer. " 

                                                                                                               -- Bara Vaida