LOBBYING REFORM hearing NOW on C-Span with Feingold, McCain witnesses!

[flpoljunkie]

It's 9:33PM, EST. Hearing led by Senator Susan Collins, head of the Governmental Affairs Committee.

[mom cat]

1. Thanks...This should be good!

[flpoljunkie]

2. Question is will this hearing be "real reform" or "window dressing."

Sounds like a lot of "ass covering" to me, but I look forward to hearing Senator Feingold's plan. There can be no real reform of the way business is done in Washington without campaign finance reform--lobbyists can actually serve as treasurers of campaigns and raise money for their "leadership" PACs.

Where is Senator Warner going--decrying that only 4% of people contribute to campaigns. I doubt he would support public campaign financing.

[mom cat]

12. Exactly...and a lot of dems get the perks too. We have to let them

know that without real reform they will have to find other unpaid volunteers... while we find some real candidates.

[flpoljunkie]

3. McCain just arrived. Feingold is already at the table waiting to testify.

[flpoljunkie]

4. McCain now speaking.

[flpoljunkie]

5. Feingold deferring to Senator Durbin, who has to leave.

[flpoljunkie]

6. Feingold now speaking.

[flpoljunkie]

10. Feingold says transparency in reporting lobbyists' campaign contributions

is a start toward more comprehensive campaign reform we can address later, and that we need to do what we can now in a bi-partisan lobby reform bill.

Feingold is a realist, but is headed in the right direction. Without changing the way Congress raises money for their campaign, with lobbyists holding fundraisers and even serving as treasurers of their "leadership PACs." there will be no change in the way business is done in Washington--special interests over the public interest.

[flpoljunkie]

7. Rick "K Street Liason" Santorum now speaking on lobby reform.

How utterly hypocritical!

[flpoljunkie]

8. Moonie Coleman has a bill with Ben Nelson to appoint commission to study

the problem and report in July, 2006. Sounds like a stall to me. George Allen, the establishment pick for GOP '08 nominee, is also a co-sponsor. What does that tell you?

[kentuck]

9. A cancer on the Legislature and Coleman wants to offer an aspirin..

Uh-huh...I hope the voters in Minnesota are watching.

[flpoljunkie]

11. If these Senators are sponsoring, it is what Karl Rove has ordered.