Tougher Rules Change Game for Lobbyists

[cal04]

H. Stewart Van Scoyoc, founder of one of the biggest lobbying firms in Washington, spent an anxious morning with his lawyer last week assessing the far-reaching ethics and lobbying rules Congress had passed the day before.

The first worry was what lobbyists are calling the new “temptation rules.” Not only do they bar lawmakers and aides from accepting any gifts, meals or trips from lobbyists, they also impose penalties up to $200,000 and five years in prison on any lobbyist who provides such freebies.

And worse still for Mr. Van Scoyoc, under the new law he is required to certify each quarter that none of the 50 lobbyists in his firm bought so much as a burger or cigar for someone on a lawmaker’s staff.

(snip)

By requiring them to certify the good behavior of their employees, the law puts lobbyists at new legal risk and could subject them to new pressure from prosecutors. And new centralized disclosures of lobbyists’ campaign contributions, fund-raising activities and even their achievements — in the form of Congressional earmarks in spending bills — make it only easier for federal investigators to paint unflattering portraits of lobbyists’ influence.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/07/washington/07lobby.html?hp

[NMDemDist2]

1. they lengthened the 'revolving' door time too didn't they? you have to

wait several years now to lobby as an ex congress-critter too right?

[Fed_Up_Grammy]

6. The turn around time should be no less than 10 years.

[williesgirl]

2. awwwwww - go find honest employment - recommended

[HysteryDiagnosis]

3. So what do the lobbyists do now??? Lie on the floor, writhe in anguish

and cry and scream?? However will they purchase a vote if not in the old fashioned way. This isn't going to work, I can see trouble on the horizon.

[flying rabbit]

4. Has @%##! vetoed this yet?

[C_U_L8R]

5. When Walmart has stronger ethical policy

than our own government, you know something is terribly wrong.