Longtime Senate Democratic Staffer Martin Paone Leaves For GOP Lobbying Firm

Longtime Secretary of the Senate Martin Paone is leaving his post to work for the GOP lobbying firm Timmons and Company, according to Senate Democratic insiders. Paone will be replaced in his position by Lula Davis, a top Democratic floor staffer.

Paone has served in the Secretary post for more than a decade, having been originally appointed Secretary for the Minority by former Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) back in 1995.

Paone is widely respected on Capitol Hill, both for his discretion and as a strategic planner. The Secretary of the Senate serves as the "chief legislative officer" for all legislative matters before the Senate, including the preparation and printing of bills, as well as the compilation of the Congressional Record for the Senate, according to the chamber's official website.

The 56-year-old Paone was born in Massachusetts and did his undergraduate work at Boston College. He has a master's degree in Russian Studies from Georgetown University. He first started working on Capitol Hill during his graduate studies in the early 1970s, serving stints in both the House Post Office and Senate Parking Office.

Paone first began working in the Senate Democratic cloakroom back in 1979, and he became a floor staffer for the Democratic Policy Committee in 1982. In 1991, Paone was appointed as Assistant Secretary for the Majority before moving up to Secretary of the Minority in 1995.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's (D-Nev.) office had no comment on Paone's departure at press time. The move will be officially announced next week.

Timmons and Company's clients include Anheuser-Busch, the American Petroleum Institute, Chrysler, and VISA U.S.A., Inc., according to its website.