Lobbyists Rules relaxed by House

Nando Times ^ | 7 Jan., 2003 | Larry Margasak

[Bodacious]

Politics: House weakens ethics rules on lobbyists

Copyright © 2003 AP Online

By LARRY MARGASAK, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (January 7, 2003 7:31 p.m. EST) - House Republicans unraveled some of their strict ethics rules Tuesday, passing changes that would allow charities to give lawmakers free travel and lodging at resorts and make it easier for lobbyists to send complimentary food to congressional offices.

The move by the Republican leadership was so well hidden that it even caught leaders of the House ethics committee by surprise. A Republican leadership aide called the changes cosmetic, but Democrats characterized them as a serious erosion of ethical standards.

The revisions were part of an overall package of rules changes that passed on a party-line vote of 221-203. A Democratic effort to kill the revisions was defeated 225-200.

"The Republican majority made much of past abuses in this body," said Rep. Martin Frost, D-Texas, in the House's first debate of the 108th Congress. "Yet, now that the Republicans believe they have a safe and secure majority for the foreseeable future, they want to undo some of the significant strides that were made."

John Feehery, the spokesman for Speaker Dennis Hastert, said the changes were clarifications. "The purpose of the charity provision is to allow members to support charities," he said. The perishable food provision, dubbed by the Democrats as the "pizza rule," means that "low-paid staff can have something to eat at dinner. They can eat pizza ethically," Feehery said.

[Bodacious]

Lobbyists should be required to wear a RED Toga, crawl from the entrance to the Capital building and be restrained to 100 feet from any elected official. All personal relationships to any elected official should be in the publis record, put on a required lapel ID card and all income sources be published weekly in every major newspaper in every state. NO public official should accept any gift, monies, service, food or entertainment from any lobbyist. Most of Congress are Millionairs anyway.

[goldstategop]

Yup. Its funny to see millionaire Democrats claiming Congress critters will be corrupted by lobbyists. If anything its the lobbyists' companies that receive the brunt of punishing legislation from the Hill. Today lobbyists' clout is highly overrated.

[dirtboy]

The perishable food provision, dubbed by the Democrats as the "pizza rule," means that "low-paid staff can have something to eat at dinner. They can eat pizza ethically," Feehery said.

They could before. They could do what the rest of us working stiffs do - pick up the phone, call Dominos and pay for it ourselves when it's delivered...

[dirtboy]

"The Republican majority made much of past abuses in this body," said Rep. Martin Frost, D-Texas, in the House's first debate of the 108th Congress. "Yet, now that the Republicans believe they have a safe and secure majority for the foreseeable future, they want to undo some of the significant strides that were made."

Having gained control of Congress because the Dems didn't have issues that resonated with voters, the GOP now seems hell-bent on giving the Dems campaign issues for 2004. Doing this the very first day of the legislative session is colossally stupid P.R.

[upchuck]

Talk about fodder for 2004!!! The Republicans should be tightening the rules, not loosening them. I am very disappointed. I'm sure the RATS are gloating and rubbing their hands together in glee.

OTOH, maybe the Pubbies figure this will be forgotten by 2004. Shame on them anyway!! This IS NOT the way I expect my party to behave!

[YaYa123]

I watched a republican congressman Bob Portman of Ohio, on Washington Journal this morning, caught just a snippet as he got this question, and according to him, it's really a big ta-doo about nothing. The fact that frantic Frost has jumped on it in such a big way confirms it for me.

We need to remember, it was Republicans who cleaned up the House, when they took over in 94. This is nothing more than a tweaking of those stringent rules, which as Hastert's office said, benefit lowly staffers, not the congressmen themselves.

My only problem with it is the timing and stealth. Even though democrat staffers working late at night will gratefully eat just as much fast food as republican staffers, (and could care less who buys as long as it's free food), the democrats can and will, hypocritically grandstand it to their political advantage. Let's hope Hastert isn't getting cocky. Not smart.

[Egg]

On the first day of the lame-duck session, they tried to hang abortion protestors by passing the unabridged bankruptcy reform bill (which would've eliminated the option of bankruptcy for those sued for illegal protests of abortion clinics). On the first day in regular session, their worried about padding their priveleges for their next few years in office. With friends like these...