Former state Sen. Robert A. Zirkin (D-Baltimore County). Photo by Bruce DePuyt.
The State House lobbying trade is being drastically altered by the COVID-19 pandemic, but that may not make it any less desirable or remunerative. The roster of registered lobbyists grows every year ? and so do their earnings.
Add to the list of newly registered lobbyists former state Sen. Robert A. Zirkin (D-Baltimore County), who finished his 21-year legislative career at the beginning of this year as chairman of the Judicial Proceedings Committee. Zirkin, whose one-year “cooling off period” for ex-legislators who want to become registered lobbyists ends on Jan. 3, has launched Zirkin & Schmerling Government Relations & Public Affairs with his law partner and former aide, Josh Schmerling.
“It’s going to be interesting,” Zirkin said in an interview. “I have not lost my passion for public policy. I just needed a break. This is going to help me stay involved.”
Zirkin announced his resignation from the Senate in late 2019, citing his desire to spend more time with his family following the death of his mother earlier in the year. After eight years in the House of Delegates, he had served in the Senate since 2007, becoming chairman of the powerful Judicial Proceedings Committee at the beginning of 2015.
