Roll Call reports this morning that Jay Cranford, “a policy aide to Speaker John Boehner is leaving the Hill to join the lobby shop of Clark Lytle & Geduldig.”

The firm, listed as “Clark & Associates” on the Center for Responsive Politics website, brought in $1.8 million in lobbying fees in 2010. Eight of its top 10 clients are businesses or trade associations that fall under the finance, insurance, and real estate sector (FIRE). They include the Electronic Payments Coalition ($160,000 in fees in 2010), the American Bankers Association ($120,000), and the “investment industry” trade association Investment Company Institute ($120,000).

Other big clients include the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Verizon, and Allstate insurance.

The article goes on to state that, “Cranford was among a cadre of top GOP staffers that lobbyists, corporate executives and headhunters had on their wish lists because of their connections to top House Republicans.”

Speaker Boehner’s campaign committee has received $4.2 million in campaign cash from the FIRE sector over the years, with some of that cash coming from the firm's clients or organizations they represent.

Clark & Associates know exactly what they are getting in having someone with such close ties to the man who sets the House’s agenda—something that people like you and me just can’t afford.