There's plenty of time later for Clinton book

At least one of the U.S. senators who took office this week for the new term won’t have to worry much about expenses.

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton comes into office with an $8 million advance in her pocket for a planned book of memoirs about her White House years.

No doubt the book will be worth the advance. Probably more so than the $4.5 million advance former House Speaker Newt Gingrich received in 1994 for his book on public policy.

But Gingrich got in huge trouble for that arrangement. He was accused of selling influence to HarperCollins through the deal.

Clinton’s deal is with Simon & Schuster, which is owned by media conglomerate CBS. CBS has more than its share of business before Congress.

Clinton is surely going to face the same kind of questions that caused Gingrich to give back the advance and cancel the deal. She should follow his lead and — for now — stick to public business and leave the memoirs for later.

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