Ex-speaker and radio talk host lobbying for state police union

BOSTON -- Former House Speaker Thomas Finneran has formed a lobbying firm and his first client is the union representing state police troopers.

Finneran, who also hosts a daily talk show on WRKO-AM, pleaded guilty last year to a federal obstruction of justice charge and was later disbarred.

The president of the State Police Association of Massachusetts, Rick Brown, told The Boston Globe that he's not concerned about the ex-speaker's criminal record.

Brown says the union isn't hiring Finneran to be a trooper, but to "walk the hallways of the Statehouse."

Finneran says he has no intention of giving up his talk show, which has been languishing in the ratings.

He says he and former law partner James Byrne are seeking other clients to represent on Beacon Hill.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)