About Damned Time!
Yesterday, the House of Representatives finally passed an ethics bill, which, while not perfect, is a good start on cleaning up the corruption in Congress. The Senate has promised to follow with its own bill this week. From the Los Angeles Times:
The bill require lobbyists to disclose more of their activities, including the campaign contributions they raise from clients, friends and relatives, a key source of their influence.
It would require lawmakers to disclose the special-interest items they slip into bills — a process, known as earmarking, that has figured prominently in congressional scandals. And it would deny congressional pensions in the future to lawmakers turned felons.
Some of the rules would differ between the House and Senate. The bill would double to two years an exclusionary period in which departed senators and senior members of the executive branch would be barred from lobbying Congress. But in the House, where hundreds of former lawmakers have cashed in on lucrative lobbying jobs after leaving Congress, the one-year "cooling off" period would remain unchanged.
On the other hand, the House forbade members from flying on corporate jets. Senators and presidential candidates would be permitted to fly on corporate jets but would have to pay charter rates instead of the less costly equivalent of first-class tickets. The House in January banned lobbyist-paid gifts, meals and travel.
Senators and their staffs would be barred from accepting gifts and meals from lobbyists. They could take trips paid for by nonprofit groups, but lobbyists would be barred from riding along. ...
It would bar lawmakers from attempting to pressure businesses into hiring lobbyists based on their political affiliation — a practice promoted by former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas) and others who sought to strong-arm lobbying firms into hiring Republicans.
Violations of the provision would carry a penalty of up to 15 years in prison.
Several things did disappoint me about this news. First of all, the vote was 411-8. This should have been unanimous.
Second, earmarks weren't abolished outright. The proposers of the earmark must give 48 hours notice and identify themselves. They must also certify that neither they nor members of their family will benefit by the earmark. That only takes care of part of the problem: if the earmark in question is such a good thing, why can't it go through the regular budgetary process?
Third, both houses are still shying away from an independent ethics review office, which means the clubby atmosphere will continue to protect the miscreant, as will the party in power.
But it is a start and at least partially fulfills one of the major promises made by the Democrats during the November, 2006 election.
The days of the infamous K Street Project will soon be over, at least for now.
Like I said, about damned time!
The bill require lobbyists to disclose more of their activities, including the campaign contributions they raise from clients, friends and relatives, a key source of their influence.
It would require lawmakers to disclose the special-interest items they slip into bills — a process, known as earmarking, that has figured prominently in congressional scandals. And it would deny congressional pensions in the future to lawmakers turned felons.
Some of the rules would differ between the House and Senate. The bill would double to two years an exclusionary period in which departed senators and senior members of the executive branch would be barred from lobbying Congress. But in the House, where hundreds of former lawmakers have cashed in on lucrative lobbying jobs after leaving Congress, the one-year "cooling off" period would remain unchanged.
On the other hand, the House forbade members from flying on corporate jets. Senators and presidential candidates would be permitted to fly on corporate jets but would have to pay charter rates instead of the less costly equivalent of first-class tickets. The House in January banned lobbyist-paid gifts, meals and travel.
Senators and their staffs would be barred from accepting gifts and meals from lobbyists. They could take trips paid for by nonprofit groups, but lobbyists would be barred from riding along. ...
It would bar lawmakers from attempting to pressure businesses into hiring lobbyists based on their political affiliation — a practice promoted by former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas) and others who sought to strong-arm lobbying firms into hiring Republicans.
Violations of the provision would carry a penalty of up to 15 years in prison.
Several things did disappoint me about this news. First of all, the vote was 411-8. This should have been unanimous.
Second, earmarks weren't abolished outright. The proposers of the earmark must give 48 hours notice and identify themselves. They must also certify that neither they nor members of their family will benefit by the earmark. That only takes care of part of the problem: if the earmark in question is such a good thing, why can't it go through the regular budgetary process?
Third, both houses are still shying away from an independent ethics review office, which means the clubby atmosphere will continue to protect the miscreant, as will the party in power.
But it is a start and at least partially fulfills one of the major promises made by the Democrats during the November, 2006 election.
The days of the infamous K Street Project will soon be over, at least for now.
Like I said, about damned time!
Labels: 110th Congress, Ethics
posted by Diane at 3:21 AM
1 Comments:
The days of the infamous K Street Project will soon be over, at least for now.
ya REALLY think so?
i'll bet theres a handful of back doorsn' trapdoors.
where the powerful are venal, venality finds 'em....gay-ron-TEED, cherie...
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