二、 U.S. Senator Trent Lott’s sudden decision to retire from public office has Washington’slobbying industry salivating at the prospect that the Mississippi lawmaker may join themillionaire’s row on K Street. That’s where more and more congressional alumni havebeen hanging their backslapper’s shingle to lobby old buddies. Mr. Lott’s planneddeparture — conveniently ahead of the new two-year wait before a retired senator canlobby — is shedding light on Capitol Hill’s quasi-aristocracy of ex-incumbents who neverreturn home and stay close by to work politics from its more lucrative shadow world.          By last count, the lobbying ranks include 37 former senators and 158 graduates of theHouse, with fresh enlistments expected from the dozens of current members planning toquit before the expected watershed election next year.         It’s important to shine a light on lobbying, more than to belabor this inevitablecalling. The Senate, in fact, voted to require more lobbyist disclosure this year and todouble its one-year moratorium before alumni can lobby.