Senate Democratic leader bans staff from accepting lobbyist gifts

[rawstory]

John Byrne

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has formally banned his staff effective immediately from accepting gifts of any kind from lobbyists, RAW STORY has learned.

In a memo last night, Reid chief of staff Susan McCue instructed Reid staffers not to accept any gifts from lobbyists. The move is a precursor to a package of ethics reforms the senator plans to introduce Wednesday with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), the 'Honest Leadership Act.'

Reid staffers will continue to be able to speak with lobbyists, an aide said, though all travel, gifts and meals will be banned.

http://rawstory.com/news/2005/Senate_Democratic_leaders_bans_staff_from_0117.html

[OKNancy]

1. Reid: No Gifts For You

http://hotlineblog.nationaljournal.com/archives/2006/01/reid_no_gifts_f.html#more

January 17, 2006
Reid: No Gifts For You
Lobbyists: don't even think about giving gifts to members of Sen. Harry Reid's staff.

As of today, per a memo written by Reid's chief of staff, Susan McCue, the minority leader forbids any member of his staff from accepting gifts of any size from lobbyists.

Currently, congressional rules allow two gifts per year to members of values not exceeding $50. As Chris Matthews discovered last week, booze is all-you-can-quaff.

And, for some reason, lobbyists for state colleges don't play by the same rules (because their expense accounts come courtesy of government funds -- which you'd think would make them subject to more onerous requirements. Not so.)

The full text of McCue's memo is below

[Straight Shooter]

2. Excellent start.

No matter how high-minded or ethical a person is, the acceptance of a gift is a compromise and ever-so-subtly can lead to favoritism. Not just Repubs, but Democrats, too.

Of course, Jack Abramoff was about as subtle as Thor's Hammer.

[realFedUp]

3. but what will happen to the fruitcake industry?

:-)