WP: Democrats Assail Republican 'Culture of Corruption'

[Pirate Smile]

Democrats Assail Republican 'Culture of Corruption'
Ethics Plan Goes Further Than GOP Measure Unveiled Yesterday

By Jonathan Weisman
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, January 18, 2006; 6:39 PM

Congressional Democrats today laid out a plan to change what they called a Republican "culture of corruption" in Washington, trying to secure a political advantage even as they wrestle with ethics charges against their own lawmakers.

Democratic leaders from the House and Senate endorsed a set of proposals that closely mirror Republican plans unveiled this week to tighten regulations on lobbyists in the wake of the Jack Abramoff political corruption scandal. But in a sign that an ethical "arms race" may be developing, the Democratic plans go further than the Republicans' proposals.

Rather than limiting the value of a gift to $20, as House Republicans are considering, the Democrats would prohibit all gifts from lobbyists. And the Democrats take direct aim at some of the legislative practices that have taken root in the last 10 years of Republican rule in Congress. They vowed to end the K Street Project, under which Republicans in Congress pressure lobbying organizations to hire only Republican staff and contribute only to Republican candidates.

Lawmakers would have to publicly disclose negotiations over private-sector jobs, a proposal inspired by then-House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman W.J. "Billy" Tauzin's job talks in 2003 that led to his hiring as president of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America. Executive branch officials who are negotiating private-sector jobs would need approval from the independent Office of Governmental Ethics.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/18/AR2006011801760.html

[Pirate Smile]

1. more

"Under the Democrats' plan, House and Senate negotiators working out final versions of legislation would have to meet in open session, with all members of the conference committee -- not just Republicans -- having the opportunity to vote on all amendments. Legislation would have to be posted publicly 24 hours before congressional consideration. The Democrats also proposed to crack down on no-bid contracting and to require that any person appointed to a position involving public safety "possess proven credentials."

"Mr. Abramoff and his associates will be held up as the beginning and end of our congressional crisis, but they are just the symptom of a larger problem," said Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-N.Y.). "Now is the time to realize that the Republican members of Congress who put America up for sale have neither the ability nor the credibility to lead us in a new direction."

-snip-
Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) conceded today that "Democrats are certainly not without sin," but, he added, the efforts of Abramoff, his business partner, Michael Scanlon, and the K Street Project to seamlessly integrate Congress's legislative efforts with the Republican lobbying world "are Republican sins and Republican sins alone."

Frank Clemente, director of the watch dog group Public Citizen's Congress Watch, drew a distinction between the corrupt actions of individuals for their own benefit and the "systemic" corruption that Abramoff's actions have uncovered: the routine, glitzy fundraisers and entertainment junkets that seemingly lead to official action; the revolving door that allows congressional aides to become high-priced lobbyists; and the fleecing of clients with the promise of access to power brokers in Washington."

[rodeodance]

7. I like the Obama quote.

Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) conceded today that "Democrats are certainly not without sin," but, he added, the efforts of Abramoff, his business partner, Michael Scanlon, and the K Street Project to seamlessly integrate Congress's legislative efforts with the Republican lobbying world "are Republican sins and Republican sins alone."

[rodeodance]

8. Kick-

[rodeodance]

9. kick

[Miss Chybil]

2. Which Democrats are wrestling with their own ethics charges? nt

[Selteri]

3. You know that liberal media and how they attack those REpublicans

and leave democrats unscatthed :sarcasm:

I've heard of three, maybe 4 democrats who've got anything implicated toward them and some of those are questionably soft.

[PhilipShore]

4. Washington Times: Democrats put 'contract on lobbyists'

Washington Times
Democrats put 'contract on lobbyists'
Stephen Dinan
January 19. 2006

http://washingtontimes.com/national/20060119-121928-1029r.htm

Democratic leaders yesterday signed a "Contract With America"-style pledge to dramatically curb lobbyists' influence in Washington...

[rodeodance]

5. great headline for the WPost.

[rodeodance]

6. I am referring to link between Repug and 'cult of corruption'