Monday, March 06, 2006
Senate Discussing New Lobbyist Rules; Nothing Substantive Expected
The Senate today is considering legislation that would require lobbyists to disclose more information more quickly on who they are treating to lunch or dinner or who they are taking on trips.
This largely cosmetic legislation likely will pass the Senate, enabling them to declare an end to the scandal brought by Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff, who pled guilty to bribing a Member of Congress, among other charges, and Republican Representative Duke Cunningham, who pled guilty to accepting millions of dollars in bribes from a defense contractor.
The Associated Press quotes Senate Republican Leader Bill Frist as saying, "It is time for us to re-examine the rules so that bad apples are exposed before they spoil the whole lot."
Interestingly, Frist failed to mention that he himself is under investigation by the Justice Department and the US Securities and Exchange Commission for his actions surrounding the sale of his stock in his family-controlled business just before bad news caused the stock to tumble. (Just remember, Frist appears to have done what Martha Stewart went to jail for doing.)
House Republicans are still dickering about their lobbying "reform" package, but it likely will be along the lines of the Senate package -- more disclosure, but no end to lobbyist funded trips, etc.
The Republican lobbyist and bribery scandals will result in some enhanced disclosure, but no real change.
This largely cosmetic legislation likely will pass the Senate, enabling them to declare an end to the scandal brought by Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff, who pled guilty to bribing a Member of Congress, among other charges, and Republican Representative Duke Cunningham, who pled guilty to accepting millions of dollars in bribes from a defense contractor.
The Associated Press quotes Senate Republican Leader Bill Frist as saying, "It is time for us to re-examine the rules so that bad apples are exposed before they spoil the whole lot."
Interestingly, Frist failed to mention that he himself is under investigation by the Justice Department and the US Securities and Exchange Commission for his actions surrounding the sale of his stock in his family-controlled business just before bad news caused the stock to tumble. (Just remember, Frist appears to have done what Martha Stewart went to jail for doing.)
House Republicans are still dickering about their lobbying "reform" package, but it likely will be along the lines of the Senate package -- more disclosure, but no end to lobbyist funded trips, etc.
The Republican lobbyist and bribery scandals will result in some enhanced disclosure, but no real change.
