Dems to announce details of their lobby reform plan on C-Span, 2PM today!

[flpoljunkie]

Will Dems "Honest Leadership Act" lead to real lobbying, campaign reform?

Harry Reid is set to announce the "Honest Leadership Act" tomorrow. How far will it really go toward cleaning up Washington? Lobbyists should not be allowed to raise money for Congress members' leadership PACs--money that they do not want to have to raise themselves, but money that is needed to run those damn 30 second TV commercials!

Let's hope Harry surprises us all!

http://www.thehill.com/thehill/export/TheHill/Business /...

As Democrats move to unite behind an anti-corruption agenda aimed at exposing political weakness in the scandal-scarred GOP, watchdog groups are warning that a Democratic leadership lobbying-reform package will not win their automatic support.

For the most part, government watchdog organizations have become stalwart Democratic allies, decrying ethical missteps by the Republican majority and helping to expose abuses of power in the lobbying industry. But the increasingly politicized debate over how to impose a new mandate of cleaner government on members, aides and lobbyists has watchdogs concerned that the Democrats will band together behind superficial reform.

Frank Clemente, director of Public Citizen’s Congress Watch division, said he was not satisfied after viewing an early draft of the “Honesty in Leadership” proposal that House and Senate Democrats will unveil next week. “It’s an important step in the right direction, but doesn’t go nearly far enough,” Clemente said. “It lacks a ban on lobbyist campaign contributions, permits way too much special-interest-funded travel.”

<>Clemente pointed to lobbyists’ widespread custom of serving as treasurers for leadership PACs and campaign committees, allowing them to curry favor with lawmakers by organizing fundraisers and securing donations. Dreier’s leadership PAC treasurer, Anthony Roda, lobbies for Dell, Coca-Cola and Time Warner, among other companies.

more...

[kentuck]

1. They should really put the heat on the Repubs with their plan...

They could win the election with this issue alone if they have the courage to call for radical changes.

[flpoljunkie]

2. Will Dems ban lobbyists' campaign contributions?

It must be pointed that it is not lobbyists who pay for these junkets, but their clients or educational or other nonprofit groups that pay for this travel.

It is already illegal for lobbyists to pay for these junkets. Will we be scammed by both parties?

[kentuck]

3. Good question..

This is an excellent opportunity to demand reform - even campaign finance reform. Hopefully the Democrats will not blow it. But they are not innocent babes in the woods either.

[flpoljunkie]

4. Thanks for paying attention, kentuck. No one else seems to care, or so it

seems with the lack of response to my posts on this subject, other than yours. Now that is sad, indeed!

Press conference will begin shortly.