After loss, Santorum trying on a lot of new hats

Former Sen. Rick Santorum can now add consulting lawyer, TV commentator and, perhaps soon, columnist to his growing post-congressional resume.

The Pittsburgh-based law firm of Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott L.L.C. announced yesterday that Santorum had joined the firm as a consultant.

Santorum will be based in the firm's Washington office, where, he said, he will focus on issues he worked on during his 16 years in Congress, including energy, health care, financial services and defense.

Santorum said part of the firm's appeal was that, unlike many Washington law firms, it does not have a lobbying arm and thus there would be "no pressure" to engage in lobbying in the course of his work.

"It is government-related, but I will not be doing any lobbying," said Santorum, who was criticized during last year's Senate campaign for his ties to Washington lobbyists.

Santorum, a Republican, was defeated in his bid for a third Senate term in November by Democrat Bob Casey Jr.

Santorum also has embarked on a media career. He recently signed on as an occasional commentator for Fox News, and discussion are under way for him to contribute a twice-monthly column to The Inquirer.

Chris Satullo, the paper's editorial page editor, said the paper had not finalized an agreement with Santorum while it works out a deal with an unnamed Democratic columnist whose column would run on alternating weeks.

"It's a package deal," said Satullo. "We want to bring in someone from the other side of the spectrum."

Also on Santorum's plate: a think-tank fellowship. In January, Santorum joined a conservative Washington-based think tank as a senior fellow.

In his role at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, Santorum heads a program called "America's Enemies."