Jules Crittenden » The Kennedy Seat.

It’s his deep ties to the insurance and pharmaceutical industries, plus whoever else he’s carried water for as a lobbyist and/or a board member. Boston Herald:

Kirk, 71, a retired lobbyist and lawyer who lives on Cape Cod, raked in a whopping $250,942 in salary and stock options as a board member for Hartford Financial Services, the umbrella for The Hartford, which sells health coverage to retirees.

Until a successor is elected in January, Kirk would wield a critical vote in health insurance and financial industry reforms, raising concerns about potential conflicts.

“Why in the world would they choose someone who has close ties to the insurance industry?” asked Wendell Potter, a former health insurance exec-turned-whistleblower. He noted the health insurance industry has much to gain in the current reform package, especially if coverage is mandated without competition from a government insurance option, as a bill now before the Senate finance committee proposes.

“This would represent an enormous new revenue stream for the insurance industry,” Potter said, adding of Kirk, “On one hand, he certainly would be knowledgeable of insurance issues, and on the other hand . . . there are going to be questions about his objectivity.”

Kirk did not return numerous phone calls yesterday. A former partner at the politically wired Hub law firm Sullivan & Worcester, Kirk lobbied for pharmaceutical giants Hoechst Marion Roussel and Aventis in 1998 and 1999, records show.

The plum appointment would guarantee Kirk Senate floor privileges and a D.C. parking space for life – along with the ability to go back to lobbying in two years.

Holman predicted Kirk would resign from Hartford Financial if appointed, but added, “Clearly that’s going to be a temporary resignation with a wink and a nod . . . Everything he learns in the Senate he is free to profit from.”

Sweet.