Treating the Symptom
Congressional corruption quite conveniently got shoved off the media radar screen by other dramatic news over the past couple of weeks. Two weeks ago we learned that the Vice President had shot a man in the face during a hunting trip. This past week we've been inundated with the story of the UAE taking over the management of 6 (or 8 or 21) US ports.
In the meantime, however, the investigation into Jack Abramoff's dealings with various congress critters continues, and another indictment has issued in the Randy "Duke" Cunningham scandal. This story isn't quite ready to die. It's an election year.
The Washington Post has an editorial which comments on the current efforts by Congress to deal with the corruption issue.
TIGHTENING lobbying rules without doing something to improve enforcement would be like overhauling the tax code while abolishing the Internal Revenue Service. The existing rules are too permissive and don't require enough disclosure; more is needed. But such changes need to be coupled with a better system to police compliance.
The best idea so far, in legislation proposed by Reps. Christopher Shays (R-Conn.) and Martin T. Meehan (D-Mass.), would create an Office of Public Integrity. This office would serve not simply as a passive repository of filings, as the current system does. Instead, it would be an independent, nonpartisan entity, on the model of the Congressional Budget Office. It would be empowered to review documents, accept outside complaints, refer matters to the Justice Department, conduct investigations and make recommendations to the House and Senate ethics committees. [Emphasis added]
The problem isn't going to go away even with sweeping reform along the lines suggested by the Shays-Meehan bill. Until we get the big money out of election campaigns, members of Congress will still be spending a whole hell of a lot of time raising funds for the next election instead of tending to the people's business, which means they will still be beholden to those who give them those funds in large chunks.
Instead of treating the symptom, this country should consider public financing of all elections at the federal level. A "Clean Elections" system has worked admirably in several state and local elections, and it has removed the prime source of corruption in public officials. The system basically requires that the only private donations allowed are at the front end. The "seed money" is usually in the $5 range because the point is to demonstrate the candidate's viability. If he/she can collect 1000 or 5000 $5 contributions, than the candidate can get at least that many voters. Once the candidate qualifies, then he/she can no longer accept any private donations.
For more detailed information on how the "Clean Election" system works, go here, here, and here.
In the meantime, however, the investigation into Jack Abramoff's dealings with various congress critters continues, and another indictment has issued in the Randy "Duke" Cunningham scandal. This story isn't quite ready to die. It's an election year.
The Washington Post has an editorial which comments on the current efforts by Congress to deal with the corruption issue.
TIGHTENING lobbying rules without doing something to improve enforcement would be like overhauling the tax code while abolishing the Internal Revenue Service. The existing rules are too permissive and don't require enough disclosure; more is needed. But such changes need to be coupled with a better system to police compliance.
The best idea so far, in legislation proposed by Reps. Christopher Shays (R-Conn.) and Martin T. Meehan (D-Mass.), would create an Office of Public Integrity. This office would serve not simply as a passive repository of filings, as the current system does. Instead, it would be an independent, nonpartisan entity, on the model of the Congressional Budget Office. It would be empowered to review documents, accept outside complaints, refer matters to the Justice Department, conduct investigations and make recommendations to the House and Senate ethics committees. [Emphasis added]
The problem isn't going to go away even with sweeping reform along the lines suggested by the Shays-Meehan bill. Until we get the big money out of election campaigns, members of Congress will still be spending a whole hell of a lot of time raising funds for the next election instead of tending to the people's business, which means they will still be beholden to those who give them those funds in large chunks.
Instead of treating the symptom, this country should consider public financing of all elections at the federal level. A "Clean Elections" system has worked admirably in several state and local elections, and it has removed the prime source of corruption in public officials. The system basically requires that the only private donations allowed are at the front end. The "seed money" is usually in the $5 range because the point is to demonstrate the candidate's viability. If he/she can collect 1000 or 5000 $5 contributions, than the candidate can get at least that many voters. Once the candidate qualifies, then he/she can no longer accept any private donations.
For more detailed information on how the "Clean Election" system works, go here, here, and here.
posted by Diane at 4:15 AM
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