From today's Roll Call (sub. req'd):

"I'm legal!" the usually jovial former Majority Leader -- looking even more jovial than usual -- was overheard announcing to former colleagues on Tuesday, as he mingled with the crowd gathered outside the Senate chamber following the swearing-in ceremonies. Lott was referring to the expiration of the ban that prevented him from lobbying.

When Lott resigned his seat on Dec. 18, 2007, ethics laws prevented former Senators from lobbying Members of Congress for a year (if he had waited until 2008 to resign, the ban would have lasted two years under the ethics law that had just been passed). The Mississippian, who now runs big-bucks lobby shop Breaux Lott Leadership Group with former Sen. John Breaux (D-La.), had been offering advice to clients seeking lobbying services, but now he's able to do the real thing.

I saw him in the throng yesterday and didn't realize he was celebrating this most auspicious anniversary.