Jewish Groups To Challenge Ethics Reform

[Left Coast Lynn]

Jewish Groups To Challenge Ethics Reform

Aipac, UJC To Face Off With Dems on Junkets, Earmarks

Two of America’s most influential Jewish organizations are gearing up for their first direct confrontation with the incoming, Democratic-led Congress. The topic: Democratic proposals for congressional ethics and lobbying reform.

At issue are two key congressional perks, targeted for elimination, that Jewish organizations rely on to achieve community goals: overseas junkets, including dozens of trips to Israel each year, funded by Jewish organizations; and an estimated $25 million a year in earmarked funds for Jewish communal projects. Both the trips and the earmarked funding face possible elimination as part of the Democrats’ pledge to fight corruption on Capitol Hill.

Speaker-elect Nancy Pelosi has said she plans to bring up the ethics reform legislation “within the first 100 hours of the 110th Congress,” which will begin its session in January 2007. Activists with several Jewish and pro-Israel groups said they will be working in the coming weeks to head off or soften the specific measures they fear most...

http://www.forward.com/articles/jewish-groups-to-challenge-ethics-reform/

[JerseygirlCT]

1. I don't think legitimate Jewish organizations should

have anything to fear from ethics reform.

It seems the group most upset about this is AIPAC, which is interesting, given their history.

From the article:

Most of the junkets are sponsored by the main pro-Israel lobbying group, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, through its sister organization, the American Israel Education Foundation. The foundation is the second-largest sponsor of overseas trips.


Personally, I think charitable organizations that do a good job ought not to fear about getting funded. And that the funding ought to be based on merit, not pull. We all know that's not the way it works, but it would be good if that were the way it works more often.

[LiberalFighter]

7. What I don't understand is why Congress needs to make regular trips

to Israel especially paid for by this group.

Our group doesn't get to pay directly for trips by Congress for our agenda. We go to Washington and invite them to our conferences.

If they feel the need to regularly fund junkets to Israel then they must not be doing a good job of explaining the merit of their case.

[Kellyiswise]

25. Can someone say Abramhoff?

This is lobbying from a foreign country and should be just as suspect and vilified as any Islamic lobbying group. This will be Pelosi's real test of power.

[Warren Stupidity]

2. Bribery must end.

Corruption is corruption is corruption. It has to stop.

[texpatriot2004]

3. AIPAC is evil and many Neocons are allied with it nm

[acmejack]

4. My, My.

This will be interesting. I know, everyone has a guaranteed First amendment right to bribe Congress. Jack Abramoff pretty much demonstrated that to us. Religion is such a wonderful thing, combine it with nationalism and ethnicity and one has a powerful mix. One can justify anything.

Damn me as a racist now will you... The only people I hate are those who will subvert the rights of ordinary Americans, that is, those of us not so blessed by birth to be special. We're just Americans, you know United we stand, E Pluribus Unum, etc.

[Katzenjammer]

10. "The only people I hate are those who will subvert the rights of ordinary Americans"

Right on! The elites are just a little too good at thinking they're the only ones who matter.

[Katzenjammer]

11. (hiccup)

[Dr Batsen D Belfry]

12. As a Jew, I am offended

not by your remarks, but by idiots that share my religion. I don't care where they are running to. It is bullshit and it doesn't need to be taxpayer funded.

If it is such a concern to Congress, then summon the U.S. Ambassador and other witnesses from Israel and let them testify before Congress.

Maybe then our own legislators will get some extra time in the Capitol doing what they were elected to do.

DBDB

[BonnieJW]

14. I share your thoughts

I too am Jewish. Once there was ample sympathy and empathy for Israel. Now because of AIPAC, there is only animosity. We have enough enemies.

[classysassy]

20. I tip my cap

to you sir.

[ItsTheMediaStupid]

24. As a Christian, I am also offended

By idiots who share my religion

[papau]

5. Ten's of Billions of earmarks need reform - and $25 m to one group must not stop the reform n/t

n/t

[Deep13]

6. How does one say "tough shit" in Yiddish?

:shrug:

[Lurking Dem]

8. Commonly

it would be gai kakhen afenyam, which means go shit in the ocean.

[immoderate]

18. Great! Yiddish is such an expressive language.

--IMM

[bleedingheart]

9. It is one thing for citizen's groups to petition congress on issues

it is an entirely different thing when there are perks=bribes involved.

I don't care what group it is, bribes/perks/handouts...should end.

[warrens]

13. Lead AIPAC to a nice high cliff, give them a push

They go beyond lobbying to being an unregistered foreign agent, spy and black propaganda outfit.

[donsu]

15. true

nt

[xchrom]

16. if our representatives need to visit other countries

for fact finding missions germain to the interests of our country -- then american tax payers can foot that bill through the legislative process.

private groups need not be flying our reps anywhere.

[Left Coast Lynn]

17. I agree with most of you

This stuff should stop, regardless of the group.

[cassiepriam]

19. How in the world can you be against ethics?

Unless of course you are crooked and a repug?

[Lurking Dem]

22. I have a feeling there

is going to be quite a lot of this from various groups. Many don't react to change well and if they have always done A, B, and C and are now told that is unacceptable they have to do X they will stamp their feet for a bit.

It's not the "ethics" part so much as the "process" part. They'll get over it when they realize they have to.

[cassiepriam]

29. It is the money part, going to be a lot of squealing .........

[IndianaGreen]

21. AIPAC is holding America hostage, as does the Cubans of CANF

It is time we free ourselves from these people that put American interests last in order to push for their parrochial goals!

[Tom Joad]

23. Many are speaking out against AIPAC. Statement opposing the policies

of aipac appeared in our local and widely read alternative weekly, the San Francisco Bay Guardian. Endorsers included media critic Norman Solomon, writer-activist Starhawk, two elected officials, and hundreds of folks who are tired of the extremism of this lobby for militarism.
See statement here:
http://www.stopaipac.org/statement.htm

When aipac holds its membership lunch in Sacramento, Sacramento for Democracy and Jewish Voice for Peace will be there, along with many others.
http://sacramentofordemocracy.org/?q=node/view/206

They say AIPAC does NOT speak for US.

These folks do support ethics in government. Do not support junkets guided by ideological extremists through the middle east.

Politicians should know more about Israel/Palestine. But aipac wants them to know only one side, and they do not represent the people who want to bring justice and peace to all the peoples of the middle East.

[Kellyiswise]

26. It's about time.

I do believe that Olmert and the Israeli government are sensing that the tide is changing concerning Israel policies. They pushed the envelop too far in Gaza and Lebanon. It will only take a few key Congress critters to say "no" to AIPAC and two more elections cycles of un-bought and un-afraid candidates and we might get our government back.

[leesa]

27. Oh dear! Nancy Pelosi going head-to-head with AIPAC after pledging

everlasting support at the, what was it, 2005 conference? Could this be rational governance?

[Tom Joad]

28. More like hand in hand. A truer lover has never been found.

Wish she were more committed to the cause of peace and justice than the politics of extremism and militarism promoted by aipac. the US, Palestine, and yes, Israel, would be better off if she, and other congresspeople, were guided by wiser and more moderate voices.