WP: Call for Lobbying Changes Is A Fading Cry, Lawmakers Say

[DeepModem Mom]

Call for Lobbying Changes Is A Fading Cry, Lawmakers Say
Calming of Political Storm Cited as Reason for Attitude Shift
By Jeffrey H. Birnbaum Jim VandeHei
and
Monday, June 26, 2006; Page A03

When Rep. Tom DeLay (R-Tex.) announced his resignation as majority leader in January -- soon after lobbyist Jack Abramoff pleaded guilty to corruption charges -- House Republicans panicked. Dozens of GOP lawmakers, fearing a political backlash, flooded the office of House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) with urgent pleas for lobbying reform.

Their message was clear: Hastert needed to champion legislation to crack down on unethical behavior and impose tough new restrictions on lobbyists and congressional perks. Hastert, who had previously shown scant interest in the issue, responded with proposals that surprised longtime reformers with their reach: a ban on privately funded travel by lawmakers and severe restrictions on lobbyist-paid meals.

"We need to reform the rules so that it is clear, beyond a shadow of a doubt, what is ethically acceptable," Hastert said at a news conference 10 days after DeLay stepped down.

But that was then. Six months later, the legislation has slowed to a crawl. Along the way, proposals such as Hastert's that would sharply limit commonplace behavior on Capitol Hill have been cast aside. Committee chairmen once predicted the bill would be finished in March, but the Senate did not pass its ethics bill until March 29 and the House passed its version May 3. The House has yet to name negotiators to draft the final package.

Legislators and public-interest group advocates say the most likely result this year is a minimalist package that would allow members to say they have responded to the Abramoff situation and other scandals but would do little to crimp their ability to accept lobbyist favors....

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/25/AR2006062500789.html

[Kagemusha]

1. Pardon me but, where was this call in the first place?

DeLay hasn't been convicted of anything. Abramoff was not a congressman, nor a senator. Seems to me the call was from Hastert himself, to cover his own ass. That's all. There wasn't a huge public outcry - this was pure spin control to prevent a much worse outcry later. And that's all. The media's talking about other things, so the "heat" is off and now it's back to usual.

[Selatius]

2. All talk, no walk

Rather typical of politicians on many issues.