Sen. Trent Lott (R-Miss.) officially resigned from the Senate on Tuesday after nearly 20 years in the chamber and close to four decades in Congress in one capacity or another.

Lott informed Vice President Cheney, the Senate President, of his move Tuesday night, with his resignation becoming effective at the close of the evening’s Senate business. By leaving before the end of the 1st session of the 110th Congress, Lott — who is expected to take a job on K Street — avoided having to observe the new two-year lobbying ban contained in the recent lobbying and ethics reform package and will instead only have to endure a one-year “cooling off” period.

Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour (R) will now appoint someone to take Lott’s seat on a temporary basis until a special election is held to pick a candidate to serve out the remainder of his term.

— Ben Pershing