Former Rep. Robert "Bud" Cramer, D-Ala., one of numerous former lawmakers who joined lobbying firms after leaving office, talks about his decision to join Wexler & Walker Public Policy Associates and why he thinks lobbyists play an important role in policy making in an editorial published in the Hill.

"All of us know the lobbying profession has received its share of criticism in recent years, and in some cases for good reason. There have been too many cases of individuals who abused the system and put personal gain ahead of not only the public good, but the law. This is why the rest of us have to work even harder to adhere to nothing less than the highest ethical standards, following all the rules and regulations to the letter and the spirit of the law."