Lobbying Reform Slow Despite Scandals

[cal04]

The stench of scandal on Capitol Hill is getting stronger five months after lobbyist Jack Abramoff pleaded guilty to influence-peddling charges, but a lobbying overhaul has yet to see the light of day. The Senate passed its version at the end of March and the House bill was approved in early May. In the month since, the House has not taken the next step, naming negotiators for talks with the Senate on a compromise bill.

In the meantime: _Rep. William Jefferson, D-La., has yet to explain how $90,000 in alleged bribery money ended up in his freezer. _Rep. Bob Ney, R-Ohio, is under criminal investigation for his ties with Abramoff. _former Majority
Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas is resigning from Congress this week, battered by the guilty pleas of two former aides in the Abramoff probe and facing a trial himself in Texas on election-related money laundering charges.

It was only in January that Republicans and Democrats battled for the ethical high ground. They proposed to outlaw privately funded travel, ban meals and gifts from lobbyists, and slow the move of former lawmakers to lobbying
jobs. Rep. David Dreier, R-Calif., who has led GOP lobbying efforts in the House, said at the time he hoped to pass a bill by the end of February. That did not happen for two reasons, according to an analyst. Congress stumbled over how to rein in lobbyists without violating their constitutional right to petition the government, and lawmakers were sidetracked by immigration legislation, extending tax breaks and other priorities, said Rutgers University political scientist Ross Baker.

The public has not pressed the lobbying issue because "most ordinary Americans really don't think much can be done," Baker said. "There's a built-in cynicism" about corruption in Washington. Fred Wertheimer, president of the watchdog group Democracy 21, says lawmakers may be misreading public attitude. "The public understands corruption, understands it's wrong and wants it eliminated," he said.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060604/ap_on_go_co/congress_ethics_1

[ck4829]

1. But yet, the GOP is ready to vote on the FMA

The Reform is NOT slow, the GOP doesn't want to happen. Period.