Dr. Adolfo Santos, Dean of the School of Liberal Arts at Georgia Gwinnett College, spoke to the Rotary Club of Lawrenceville at their April 20 meeting. A professor of Political Science, he discussed the subject of his book Do Members of Congress Reward Their Future Employers? Evaluating the Revolving Door Syndrome. Starting with the Founding Fathers, he traced the relation between D.C. lawmakers and powerful corporations and businesses. In the early days government directly impacted fewer citizens and businesses than today, so most lawmakers went back home after serving. In the years post New Deal and Great Society programs, legislation started to affect more people. Lawmakers served long terms and progressed to chairmanships of committees which held a lot of power. Prior to the 60s and 70s lawmakers tended to return to their home states upon retirement, but changes in committee structure and lessening of the power of committee chairs led to less commitment to serve and more interest in becoming lobbyists. Dr. Santos noted that it is natural for lawmakers to want to use their knowledge of how the system works and their contacts with fellow lawmakers, but he is concerned that some lawmakers use their last couple of years in office to promote an industry which will give them a lucrative lobbyist position when they do retire. He proceeded to offer several examples of lawmakers and corporations which have abused this system.