Democratic firms first hurried to hire well-connected Republicans shortly after Republicans won control of Congress in 1994.

Though the supply and demand of lobbyists is shifting, well-connected Republicans have hardly been put out of work, particularly given the narrow majority in the Senate.

"We have hundreds of people being laid off, terrible service to the public and a lot of well-connected Republicans making a lot of money."

Several of the new faces are politically well-connected Republicans or their relatives, Mr. Pataki's aides conceded.

The position was mentioned to me by a well-connected Republican.

Being a "homeless czar" would be a feebler job, as I told the well-connected Republican.

"You are reading my lips," said the well-connected Republican.

True," said the well-connected Republican, "but there will be splendid photo opportunities at Christmas and Thanksgiving.

It was a short jump from that to the six-figure consulting fees to well-connected Republicans to make sure those forms were at the top of the pile.

Mr. Faso is receiving aid from other well-connected Republicans, including Mr. Weld, who dropped out of the race for governor last month.