Democrats Split on How Far to Go With Ethics Law

[NVMojo]

WASHINGTON, Nov. 18 — After railing for months against Congressional corruption under Republican rule, Democrats on Capitol Hill are divided on how far their proposed ethics overhaul should go.

Democratic leaders in the House and the Senate, mindful that voters in the midterm election cited corruption as a major concern, say they are moving quickly to finalize a package of changes for consideration as soon as the new Congress convenes in January.

Their initial proposals, laid out earlier this year, would prohibit members from accepting meals, gifts or travel from lobbyists, require lobbyists to disclose all contacts with lawmakers and bar former lawmakers-turned-lobbyists from entering the floor of the chambers or Congressional gymnasiums.

None of the measures would overhaul campaign financing or create an independent ethics watchdog to enforce the rules. Nor would they significantly restrict earmarks, the pet projects lawmakers can anonymously insert into spending bills, which have figured in several recent corruption scandals and attracted criticism from members in both parties. The proposals would require disclosure of the sponsors of some earmarks, but not all.

Some Democrats say their election is a mandate for more sweeping changes, and many newly elected candidates — citing scandals involving several Republican lawmakers last year — made Congressional ethics a major issue during the campaign. After winning the House on election night, Representative Nancy Pelosi, the House Democratic leader, promised “the most honest, most open and most ethical Congress in history.”

Senator Barack Obama, an Illinois Democrat tapped by party leaders last year to spearhead ethics proposals, said he was pushing for changes with more teeth. “The dynamic is different now,” Mr. Obama said Friday. “We control both chambers now, so it is difficult for us to have an excuse for not doing anything.”

He is pushing to create an independent Congressional ethics commission and advocates broader campaign-finance changes as well. “We need to make sure that those of us who are elected are not dependent on a narrow spectrum of individuals to finance our campaigns,” he said.

more....

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/19/washington/19ethics.html?_r=1&th&emc=th&oref=slogin

[Deja Q]

1. Whatever it is, it must be equally and uniformly applied.

Or else the approval of congress will sink to the floor and below.

[Greyhound]

2. Here sheeple, look at the shiny objects, which do you prefer?

[NVMojo]

3. can't wait to see where Reid falls on all of this with his son and others

close to him working on behalf of major lobbying efforts ...one son is a Clark County Commissioner who wants water from rural NV for thirsty LV; one son is a major lawyer for the national mining industry ...another son-in-law is with a major lobbying group in LV but moved to DC to do the dirty. Yep, this will be interesting ...and I'm sure he's not the only one with turds in his congressional nest.

[Rose Siding]

5. He was with Pelosi on sweeping changes in January-

anip>Pelosi, a California Democrat, and Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada introduced what they dubbed the "Honest Leadership and Open Government Act," saying it would curtail the influence of lobbyists and big contributors.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/01/18/congress.ethics/

The Honest Leadership And Open Government Act

The Tony Rudy Reform: Close the Revolving Door. Close the revolving door between the Congress and lobbying firms by doubling (from one year to two) the cooling-off period during which lawmakers, senior Congressional staff, and Executive Branch officials are prohibited from lobbying their former offices. Eliminate floor privileges for former Members of Congress and officers of the Senate and House who return to lobby.
...
The Ralph Reed Reform: Toughen Public Disclosure of Lobbyist Activity. Significantly expand the information lobbyists must disclose – including campaign contributions and client fees. Require them to file disclosure reports electronically, and increase the frequency of those filings. Require lobbyists to certify that they did not violate the rules, and make them subject to criminal penalties for false certifications.
...
The Jack Abramoff Reform: Ban Lobbyist Gifts and Travel. Prohibit the receipt of gifts, including gifts of meals, entertainment and travel, from lobbyists.
...
The Grover Norquist Reform: Shut Down Pay-to-Play Schemes Like the “K Street Project.” End efforts like the “K Street Project,” which Republicans created to tell corporations and lobbying firms whom they should hire in exchange for political access.
...
The Scully & Tauzin Reform: Disclosure of Outside Job Negotiations. Requires lawmakers to disclose when they are negotiating private sector jobs, and requires Executive Branch officials who are negotiating private sector jobs to receive approval from the independent Office of Government Ethics.
...
The Frist & Hastert Reform: Prohibit “Dead of Night” Special Interest Provisions. Require that all conference committee meetings be open to the public and that members of the conference committee have a public opportunity to vote on all amendments. Make copies of conference reports available to Members, and post them publicly on the Internet, 24 hours before consideration (unless waived by a supermajority vote).
...
The Halliburton Reform: Zero Tolerance for Contract Cheaters. Restore accountability and openness in federal contracting by subjecting major contract actions to public disclosure and aggressive competition; criminally prosecuting contractors who cheat taxpayers, with penalties including suspension and debarment; imposing stiff criminal and civil penalties for wartime fraud on government contracting; prohibiting contractors with conflicts of interest from conducting oversight or writing contract requirements they could bid on; mandating full disclosure of contract overcharges; creating tough penalties for improper no-bid contracts; and closing the revolving door between federal contract officials and private contractors.
...
The Brownie Reform: Prohibit Cronyism in Key Appointments. End rampant cronyism by requiring that any individual appointed to a position involving public safety possess proven credentials, and training or expertise in one or more areas relevant to the position.

http://www.dccc.org/fights/honesty_principles/

[JudyM]

6. This would be great - more substantive than what now appears to be on the table. n/t

[NVMojo]

8. nothing there about not allowing "relatives" to lobby a rep/Senator

[rodeodance]

4. i heard this mantra for days and day s---!

...Representative Nancy Pelosi, the House Democratic leader, promised “the most honest, most open and most ethical Congress in history.”

[xchrom]

7. to waver now would not be good.

it give fodder to the enemy on two fronts -- first for media criticism and second for the republick party to take advantage of holes left unclosed.

[NVMojo]

9. or slam the Dems for hypocrisy

[xchrom]

11. that's what the media will do with glee.

[Nite Owl]

10. If it doesn't have 'teeth',

if there is no enforcement mechanism than all it amounts to is rhetoric. Same old, same old. I expect more and don't know why they would even question the need for enforcement.

[VegasWolf]

12. After spending 10's of millions of their own dollars, congress feels it is their "due"

honor to receive perks, money gifts, free airline travel, etc. Otherwise, why would anybody be a politican!!! Most politicans are just a special breed of white collar criminal.