House Conservatives Abandon Ethics Reform, End Debate on Bill With No Vote
House Conservatives Abandon Ethics Reform, End Debate on Bill With No Vote
Earlier this week, the Washington Post described the conservative-backed lobbying reform bill that was moving through the House:
If the Senate-passed measure was a disappointment, the House version is simply a joke — or, more accurately, a ruse aimed at convincing what the leaders must believe is a doltish public that the House has done something to clean up Washington.
Today, unexpectedly, House leaders “abruptly called off” debate over the bill. Their reasoning: it was too strong. (They claim it’s okay because the public doesn’t actually mind corruption.) A look at just how strong is too strong for conservatives on ethics reform:
- Weak Earmark Reform: The bill would “require appropriations bills to identify the lawmakers responsible for each spending earmark.” Appropriations chairman Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-CA) called out conservatives on their half-hearted reform package, saying it should be broadened to include earmarks in tax and authorization bills as well. This was too strong for the House leadership — a large reason debate was cut off today.
- No Restrictions on Lavish Gifts: The bill would “leave the current gift limits unchanged.” Additionally, the House Administration committee rejected an amendment that would have made it illegal for lawmakers and their staffs to knowingly accept gifts from lobbyists or agents of foreign governments.
- No Ban on Free Exotic Trips: The bill would not permanently ban privately-funded trips for lawmakers, but would suspend them until Dec. 15, at which point the temporary suspension could be lifted without any direct vote occurring.
- No Increase in Lobbyist Transparency: The bill “so narrowly defines what qualifies as a fundraising event for a member of Congress that it will be easy to design campaign fundraisers that do not meet the definition, and therefore will not have to be disclosed.” Under this bill, lobbyists could continue to pay $25,000 or $50,000 for a fundraiser, with no oversight.
- No Ethics Training for Members: The bill calls for mandatory ethics training for all congressional staff, but not for members.
- No Revolving Door Slow-Down: A companion piece of legislation to the lobbying bill would require administration officials to wait at least two years after they leave office before becoming lobbyists. But there is no legislation to create a similar two-year waiting period for lawmakers, even though nearly 50 percent of lawmakers go on to lucrative lobbying jobs, often lobbying their former colleagues.
- No Grassroots Lobbying Regulation: There are currently no disclosure rules “for professional lobbying firms that are retained to spend money on campaigns aimed at stimulating the public to lobby Congress, including multimillion dollar advertising campaigns.” Rep. Marty Meehan (D-MA) offered an amendment to include disclosure of grassroots lobbying expenditures, but the House conservative leadership ruled the amendment “non-germane,” and it was not even considered.
- No Enforcement of Existing Rules: The bill “includes no mechanism for enforcing and monitoring old and new rules.” The House Administration Committee rejected an amendment “that would have established an Office of Public Integrity (OPI) within the House of Representatives Inspector General’s office to conduct audits and investigations of all filings made by lobbyists.”
UPDATE: At the last minute, the House bill narrowly survived in a 216-207 vote to continue debate. The House leadership promised “to extend the earmark provisions to all committees when the House and Senate negotiate a final version of the bill.” The bill will be up for a vote on Tuesday.
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Looks like the Republican coalition is beginning to self destruct. It’s amazing what happens in an election year, especially as the elections draw near.
April 27th, 2006 at 4:35 pmSo, they can’t pass “ethics” reform because there’s not enough votes to pass their legislation?
Hmmm. You’d think they’d realize that it’s not good legislation, but that would make too much sense.
April 27th, 2006 at 4:38 pmWhen they’re done will the Dukester still get to keep his pension? I guess it’s ok to deny a leaker of potentially politically damaging classified wrong doing of their pension but if you fleece the public, take bribes and spend it on your house, your yacht and your johnson that’s ok? Some one tell me I’m wrong.
April 27th, 2006 at 4:43 pmThey cannot pass an ethics reform bill because they do not know what ethics are.
April 27th, 2006 at 4:43 pmOur government is a complete joke. It doesn’t matter if you are a Republican or Democrat. The only thing that gets represented in Washington (or most state legislatures) is money. Money talks. Until there is legislation to only allow public funding of campaigns, there can never be any kind of real reform, be it campaign finance or otherwise.
America should be pimp slapped for calling what we have a “democracy.”
April 27th, 2006 at 4:45 pmSo, they can’t pass “ethics†reform because there’s not enough votes to pass their legislation?
Comment by Democrat Soldier — April 27, 2006 @ 4:38 pm
Funny, huh? They can’t even agree with themselves. Not a good sign.
April 27th, 2006 at 4:50 pmLobbyists should have to pay $1000 and submit a well documented proposal to an ageny like the patent office. They make it public and BY LAW congress people can only discuss it publiclly for all to hear except in extreme national security situations …how many of these can a private lobbyist actually have? The $1000 is to stop everybody with a bitch from sending in a proposal. Making it illegal to discuss the matter in private outside of the view of the public in the light of day is to prevent BRIBARY. That way all the people like MoveOn, Think Progress, or any conservative group can do simple Internet searches on all proposals and on all contacts to make sure everything is on the up and up… They could still do secret well hidden kick backs etc… but when they are caught they could not make any excuses about how “politics is being criminalized” as I believe Tom Delay put it.
April 27th, 2006 at 4:52 pmThey can’t pass ethics reform in an election year. They need the money from the lobbyist to help pay for their campaigns.
April 27th, 2006 at 4:53 pm#7 Gerald - good one.
yeah, Tom Delay should know all about “politics…being criminalized”.
April 27th, 2006 at 4:56 pmPresident Jimmy Carter in 1975 wrote, “Can our government be honest, decent, open, fair, and compassionate? Can our government be competent?” It’s clear that under Republican control our government can be none of these things. Twice in my lifetime the Republicans have shown themselves to be the party of corruption, special interests, and excessive and unconstitutional executive power. People often say that there is a core of voters who will never vote Democratic, well this is one voter who will never vote Republican.
April 27th, 2006 at 5:00 pmLobbyists should have to pay $1000 and submit a well documented proposal to an ageny like the patent office.
Yeah, right before we drag them outside and shoot them in the head.
Sheesh. Corporate America’s pet Republicans aren’t even bothering to pretend any more.
April 27th, 2006 at 5:03 pm.
Everyone suprised by this raise your hand.
What? Non one?
Face it, folks: As Kevin rightly noted, ours is no longer a nation of the people, by the people or for the people.
It is a nation of the few, for the special interests, who buy the people.
And some on the right wonder why some of us are so pissed?
April 27th, 2006 at 5:07 pm#6 - “They can’t even agree with themselves. Not a good sign.”
Actually, it’s a very good sign. . . . . for Americans! It means the “walking in lock-step” is starting to break, and they’re starting to fracture. It means there’s a much better chance at them losing Majority status this coming November. I doubt it will happen, but I do firmly believe they’ll lose seats. And that’s a good sign!
April 27th, 2006 at 5:20 pmPlease don’t forget that this Saturday is also:
March for Peace, Justice and Democracy
Saturday, April 29 - New York City
March steps off at noon
Assemble beginning at 10:30AM
Grassroots Action Festival in Foley Square, 1:00PM-6:00PM
Maps: Assembly Area & March Route
It should be magnificent: sunny skies, pleasant temperatures (low 60s), and a massive crowd this Saturday at the March for Peace, Justice and Democracy in New York City.
New York in Springtime is a beautiful time, especially when you can spend it with friends caring for this country and voicing their concern over the right wing president and the corrupt administration.
April 27th, 2006 at 5:26 pmHa ha ha! Remember that bill Bush signed back in February that Hastert tried to call back because it was NOT the version that passed the House - Bush signed it anyway. Today a dozen Senators are suing the president.
April 27th, 2006 at 5:33 pmCheck it out at Raw Story.
And that’s a good sign!
Comment by Democrat Soldier — April 27, 2006 @ 5:20 pm
Guess I was thnking in their terms, since that’s all they ever do :)
I have little to no faith in the average American to vote out of anything other than fear. I don’t expect much change any time soon. Not until gas is $10 a gallon and people are dying in the winter due to a lack of food and heat. Revolution takes unbearable circumstances. We don’t quite have that yet.
April 27th, 2006 at 5:42 pmWe have a “Clean Elections Law” in AZ that involves public funding of campaigns, and limits on campaigns. A Republican Legislator was recently ousted here in AZ for violating that law. Guess what, our Republican Legislature is now trying to do away with the Clean Elections Law.
April 27th, 2006 at 5:42 pmBut, there is this: Has anyone seen this on True Majority today? This is the opening sentence: “House Majority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) told Republican colleagues yesterday that they will have a full and lengthy floor debate on the Iraq war, a dramatic change of course for GOP leaders who had previously resisted Republican and Democratic calls for such a debate.â€
How’s about that? Even the Republican Congress is trying to tip-toe away from Bush’s oil war. Think it’s any coincidence that the off-term elections are drawing near? Yee-ah!
April 27th, 2006 at 5:45 pmI’m sure all the major media outlets will be shining a hi-intensity spotlight on this……right? Because, if they don’t, how does John Q. Public even know it occurred?
I have to believe there’s a late breaking story on Natalie Halloway that’ll bump this tonight. Afterall, why would they broadcast stories that effect us all when there are important stories that effect .000001% of the population directly?
April 27th, 2006 at 6:01 pmMaybe if Americans heard that an intensive industry lobbying campaign was successful in getting Republicans to block a Democratically sponsored amendment, that would have required the inspection of 100% of the cargo containers coming into our country, while at the very same time they make a laughable ‘effort’ to “reform” the rules regarding the insane levels of influence the lobbyists are able to “purchase” for the corporations they represent, which predictably went nowhere. Really leaves no doubt as to what their TRUE priorities are, and they certainly don’t include the safety of the American people, because the corporations don’t care about that! It’s all about the bottom line here, folks. Money first, humans… well, we’ll get to them some other time.
April 27th, 2006 at 6:26 pmIf Congress reads the polls (well,at least some staffer does) they should read the WSJ. Their most recent poll notes that “Among all Americans,a 39% pluarality say the single most important thing for Congress to accomplish is curtailing budgetary “earmarks” benefiting only certain constituents.”
April 27th, 2006 at 6:33 pmConservative. Ethics? Conservatives abandon ethics…
What! Aren’t all our entire Democratic systems based on trust. Including the justice system and the financial systems… I think we mind a lot if anyone is corrupt, espeically our politicians. Our foundation is built on truth, trust, and justice.
Why do people believe the Conservatives are the party of integrity and morality? What a snowjob.
April 27th, 2006 at 6:35 pmLooks like Libby is having problems according to this article on Yahoo!
http://news.yahoo.com/ s/ ap/ 20060427/ ap_on_go_ot/ cia_leak;_ylt=Agxy_hhfh57gZKOY3iC6aOGMwfIE;_ylu=X3oDMTA4NGRzMjRtBHNlYwMxNjk5
April 27th, 2006 at 6:53 pmRepublicans need unity to pass the legislation because it faces widespread Democratic opposition.
April 27th, 2006 at 7:12 pmTundra, the article states that the Dems have a far more robust bill. The Republicans think their own pathetic smokescreen is too strong. The Pubs are the ones opposing true reform.
April 27th, 2006 at 7:34 pmI was all lost and confused on the whole thing for a few there. I think they are all blowing smoke. If they want I’ll go write them one, they would be better off with the Democrat one I think :)
April 27th, 2006 at 7:54 pmRepublicans in DC are all brain-damaged, so nothing they do surprises me > lol.
April 27th, 2006 at 8:14 pmWe have corrupt Repubs controlling all 3 branches of government…and yet they have NOT done anything about any one of their “core values” except lowering taxes on the richest of the rich! They say they want Roe v Wade overturned…they have the Supreme court filled with enough corrupt repubs to illegally hand GWB the Presidency, but abortion is still legal. They are against gay marriage, they haven’t even tried anything with it, they say they want campaign reform…more lip service. All of the Republican “core issues” are nothing but campaign issues, so they will NEVER be changed or even attempted because then they would lose it as a campaign issue.
Here is a good base for campaign reform to start from :D I call it the Public Trust Act…Simply put my idea is this. Any Elected or appointed official who uses their position to violate the law and betray the “public trust” placed in them is subject to mandatory sentencing guidelines which are double the maximum penalties for the same offense commited by a private citizen. So when Libby is finally convicted of perjury, rather than doing a slap on the wrist 10 months he’ll probably have commuted anyhow, he’d do 4 years with no chance of having the sentence commuted.
April 27th, 2006 at 9:00 pmGee, conservative Republicans want more money. What a shocker.
April 27th, 2006 at 11:06 pm—————–
DRMPro.net: http://www.drmpro.net
—————–
Tom Toles described it graphically:
hysterical
April 28th, 2006 at 7:11 am#28 - I like your “Public Trust Act”, but you already know that no politician will back it. Heaven forbid they hold themselves to a higher standard than they currently do!
It’s something that’s going to require the American people impose it upon them. Constantly and consistently calling on the liars and cheaters and backroom dealers to be recognized for who and what they are.
I mean for this to apply to ALL elected politicians. Corruption isn’t just for one party, both party’s have members of this stripe as members, it’s just that the Republicans are supposed to be “in power”, so they’re the only current ones with the real opportunities to be bribed by the lobbyists & Jack Abramoff’s. I’m sure there would be Democrats caught up in the Abramoff scandal if they had power, but since they don’t they’ve currently bypassed his train wreck.
April 28th, 2006 at 8:46 am#31 Heaven forbid they hold themselves to a higher standard than they currently do!
Heaven forbid they hold themselves to a standard!
April 28th, 2006 at 2:38 pm#31 I’m sure there would be Democrats caught up in the Abramoff scandal if they had power
While I am sure you are correct to a point, there have been some glaring differences in the way the 2 parties handle issues when they arise. When Congressman James Trafficant was arrested, the Democrats didn’t back him with millions to buy his way out of trouble…he defended himself lost and went to prison for years. While on the other hand, the Republicans put enough money defending people they know are guilty(since the RNC is usually actively involved in the crime) that they could buy a small island nation with no extradition…
April 28th, 2006 at 4:37 pmWe expect our Representatives to try to live by example. Our entire way of life is built on trust.
Public doesn’t mind a little corruption (corruption spreads like wildfire):
http://hosted.ap.org/ dynamic/ stories/ B/ BODY_PARTS?SITE=NVLAS&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
April 28th, 2006 at 5:27 pmThe U.S. Congress is…
(to use the vernacular from back in the day when the entire football team enjoyed the sexual favors of willing cheerleaders like Mighty Aphrodite, Bushiva and IRI))
…”pulling a train” on the American people…
…First DeLay…
…and now Boehner’s taking his turn…
…DA*N, I feel so …so…USED!
April 29th, 2006 at 9:52 amReading Robert Rubin book, “In an Uncertain World”, I am reminded that markets are more important than ever before because more people lives are impacted by them like never before.
How can the Republicans think on the one hand markets are the cure for everything, and then on the other hand say that corruption is okay.
So the Enron corruption was okay? It was okay people lost their entire retirement savings?
The quality and standard of our retirement is resting on the markets and these guys say corruption is ok! Wow! The Republican party clearly is not the party of ethics and morals, or they have a perverse definition of them.
April 30th, 2006 at 11:39 am[…] A look at what this bill is missing: – No Restrictions on Lavish Gifts: Current gift limits will remain unchanged. […]
May 3rd, 2006 at 6:34 pm[…] Earlier today, the GOP-controlled House passed lobbyist reform measures that the Washington Post said were a “sham.” Think Progress noted several provisions that lacked from the legislation, despite promises for a comprehensive bill: […]
May 3rd, 2006 at 10:01 pm[…] Jean Schmidt joined her fellow “conservatives” in passing snow job snake oil masked as lobbying reform. Think Progress breaks down what the bill is missing: […]
May 5th, 2006 at 9:33 am[…] Blog Name: Think Progress Article Title: House Conservatives Abandon Ethics Reform, End Debate on Bill With No Vote Earlier this week, the Washington Post described the conservative-backed lobbying reform bill that was moving through the House: If the Senate-passed measure was a disappointment, the House version is simply a joke — or, more accurately, a ruse… […]
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