"House GOP Leaders Unveil New Ethics Plan"

[GreenPartyVoter]

WASHINGTON (AP) - House Speaker Dennis Hastert urged new restrictions on gifts from lobbyists Tuesday, responding to a scandal that already has claimed two Republican leaders and raised GOP fears about this year's elections.

Hastert, confronting a political crisis spawned by the Jack Abramoff scandal, promoted legislation that would end the practices of lobbyists footing the bill for lunches or arranging lavish "fact-finding" trips for members of Congress to warm-weather resorts.

Lawmakers-turned-lobbyists would be banned from the House gym and from access to the House floor, where they have been known to make deals in hopes of changing votes.

House Rules Committee Chairman David Dreier, R-Calif., who is spearheading the lobbying overhaul effort for Hastert, said the goal was to pass legislation by the end of February. He said it would include the forfeiture of congressional pensions for members convicted of a felony related to official duties.

http://apnews1.iwon.com/article/20060118/D8F6OFEG0.html

[Trillo]

1. Whatever you do, don't ban the MONEY. nt

/sarcasm

[EST]

2. This is the con's opportunity to try to eliminate 527s.

These crooks haven't the capacity to actually regulate themselves. If they can succeed in staining the dems, they will attempt to eliminate grassroots influence. And here I'd always thought it was supposed to be government by the people...

[newswolf56]

3. A GOPorker "ethics plan" ---

is a contradiction in terms.

[FrankBooth]

4. Death Row inmates release plan for clemency

these guys are too much.

[ryan_cats]

5. Que pasa?

Uhh, new plan.
Step one: Don't get caught.
Step two: Oops, we'll give the money back.
Step three: The Democrats did it too.
Step four: It was all Clinton's fault!