George: Kramer, what the hell are you talking about?
KRAMER: I'm talking about the pigman, George. I went into the wrong room and there he was.
George: A pigman?
KRAMER: Yes, a pigman. Half pig, half man.
Posted on 03/27/2007 4:42:42 PM PDT by yoe
Opponents of a new executive branch lobbying reform bill working its way through the U.S. House of Representatives warn that it will impede an ordinary citizen's absolute right to communicate with government officials.
Conservatives groups have expressed outrage over the proposed law — one that targets not just lobbyists but organizations trying to effect public policy.
When Rep. Henry A. Waxman, chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of the House, introduced H.R. 984, the Executive Branch Reform Act, last month, he promised it represented "good government" reform.
Critics, however, think it should be renumbered "H.R. 1984" because of the looming specter of an Orwellian "Big Brother."
As advertised, the legislation, among a host of other provisions, stops the practice of "secret" meetings between lobbyists and executive branch officials by requiring all political appointees and senior officials in federal agencies and the White House to report the contacts they have with lobbyists and other private parties seeking to influence official government action.
The reports, which will be filed quarterly and maintained on a searchable database at the Office of Government Ethics, must disclose the dates of meetings, the parties involved, and the subject matters discussed.
Reportedly, the Waxman bill, approved 28-0 by his committee on Feb. 14, may be incorporated into a broader "ethics reform" bill, on which the House may act at any time.
The Senate passed its version of "ethics reform" legislation, S.1, in January, but it got stripped of any provision comparable to H.R. 984's reporting requirements.
There are many concerns over the language in the controversial H.S. 984.
"Not later than 30 days after the end of a calendar quarter, each covered executive branch official shall make a record of, and file with the Office of Government Ethics a report on, any significant contacts during the quarter between the covered executive branch official and any private party relating to an official government action. If no such contacts occurred, each such official shall make a record of, and file with the Office a report on, this fact, at the same time."
Susan T. Muskett, an attorney with the National Right to Life Committee cringes at what she perceives as the overly broad verbiage.
If Waxman wants to reduce the influence of lobbyists, why not stop or reverse the increasing concentration of money and power in DC?
What about "secret" meetings between lobbyists and congressional officials ...
I'd believe Waxman wishes a more ethical government if the rules for the White House also applies to every member of Congress. Let them all get into the quicksand of this bill.
If Waxman is for it all Americans should be against it.
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