Yup........It seems the Demmies are Throwing "Ethics" OUT THE
WINDOW..........The Culture of Democrat CORRUPTION Marches
On.........Heehee..........
"Lobbying Reform Losing Steam in House
WASHINGTON May 11, 2007 (AP)
House Democrats are suddenly balking at the tough lobbying reforms
they touted to voters last fall as a reason for putting them in charge
of Congress.
Now that they are running things, many Democrats want to keep the big
campaign donations and lavish parties that lobbyists put together for
them. They're also having second thoughts about having to wait an
extra year before they can become high-paid lobbyists themselves
should they retire or be defeated at the polls.
The growing resistance to several proposed reforms now threatens
passage of a bill that once seemed on track to fulfill Democrats'
campaign promise of cleaner fundraising and lobbying practices.
"The longer we wait, the weaker the bill seems to get," said Craig
Holman of Public Citizen, which has pushed for the changes. "The sense
of urgency is fading," he said, in part because scandals such as those
involving disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff and former Rep. Duke
Cunningham, R-Calif., have given way to other news.
The situation concerns some Democrats, who note their party campaigned
against a "culture of corruption" in 2006, when voters ended a long
run of Republican control of Congress. Several high-profile issues
remained in doubt Friday, five days before the House Judiciary
Committee is to take up the legislation.
They include proposals to:
Require lobbyists to disclose details about large donations they
arrange for politicians.
Make former lawmakers wait two years, instead of one, before lobbying
Congress.
Bar lobbyists from throwing large parties for lawmakers at national
political conventions.
All appeared headed for adoption in January when the Senate, with much
fanfare, included them in a lobby-reform bill that passed easily. But
the provisions, plus many others in the bill, cannot become law unless
the House concurs and that's where feet are dragging.
The issues are in danger of being dropped from the House version, a
Democratic member close to the negotiations said Thursday, speaking on
condition of anonymity because sensitive discussions were continuing."
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