Feingold snub blow to 2-year revolving door

[babylonsister]

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/feingold-snub-blow-to-2-year-revolving-door-2007-06-15.html

Why did Reid do this?

Feingold snub blow to 2-year revolving door
By Alexander Bolton
June 15, 2007

Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.), the champion of a proposal to extend the cooling-off period during which former lawmakers and staff cannot lobby Congress, wants to be a part of final negations on lobbying reform — but Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has told him no.

Feingold’s absence from final negotiations lessens the chance that lawmakers will include the controversial proposal in final reform legislation. Advocates of strict reform say that the makeup of the Senate-House conference committee will do much to determine the final legislative product.

snip//

Reid is expected to announce which senators will participate in negotiations with the House over lobbying reform in the next few days. But the absence of Feingold from the discussions does not bode well for the so-called “revolving-door ban.”

Feingold has been the most outspoken proponent of the reform, which ethics watchdog groups say is essential to cleaning up what Democrats have dubbed the culture of corruption in Washington. He sponsored an amendment to the reform bill that would have broadened a two-year ban to cover lobbying activities such as directing strategy for influence campaigns.

While the Senate has voted to prohibit former lawmakers from contacting their colleagues for two years, House lawmakers have balked at even that reform.

“If Feingold were in there, it would substantially enhance the chances of the revolving door provision being included ,” said Craig Holman, an advocate for Public Citizen, a group that has pushed for strong ethics rules. “Feingold would have been fantastic to be included … and so would Obama, as long as there is one advocate of real reform included in the conference committee.”

more...

[ChairmanAgnostic]

1. little wonder that congress ratings are right up there with Bush.

stupid stupid stupid.

[ClassWarrior]

2. Would you please post this in the Wisconsin forum, sis?

NGU.

[babylonsister]

4. Sure! nt

[bbgrunt]

3. I'm beginning to feel a repulsion every time I see Reid on tv.

[Warren Stupidity]

5. Can't you smell that smell ?

Ooooh that smell
Can't you smell that smell
Ooooh that smell
The smell of death surrounds you
Ooooh that smell
Can't you smell that smell
Ooooh that smell
The smell of death surrounds you
- the great lynyrd skynyrd


The smell of death and corruption prevades washington.

[necso]

6. Substantial, serious, tough,

painful ethics-reform is the very least that's expected from this Congress.

...

Already signed, sealed and delivered... as far as I'm concerned.

Gotta muster the reserves, though.