Getting Around Rules on Lobbying

Washington Post: Members Of Congress And Staff Finding Ways To Accept Perks

(WASHINGTONPOST.COM)  By Elizabeth Williamson

In recent days, about 100 members of Congress and hundreds of Hill staffers attended two black-tie galas, many of them as guests of corporations and lobbyists that paid as much as $2,500 per ticket.

Because accepting such gifts from special interests is now illegal, the companies did not hand the tickets directly to lawmakers or staffers. Instead, the companies donated the tickets back to the charity sponsors, with the names of recipients they wanted to see and sit with at the galas.

The arrangement was one of the most visible efforts, but hardly the only one, to get around new rules passed by Congress this summer limiting meals, travel, gifts and campaign contributions from lobbyists and companies that employ them.

Last week, Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) and Republican leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) found bipartisan agreement on maintaining one special privilege. Together they put language into a defense appropriations bill that would keep legal the practice of some senators of booking several flights on days they return home, keeping the most convenient reservation and dumping the rest without paying cancellation fees -- a practice some airlines say could violate the new law.

Senators also have granted themselves a grace period on requirements that they pay pricey charter rates for private jet travel. Lobbyists continue to bundle political contributions to lawmakers but are now making sure the totals do not trigger new public reporting rules. And with presidential nominating conventions coming next summer, lawmakers and lobbyists are working together to save another tradition endangered by the new rules: the convention party feting one lawmaker.

"You can't have a party honoring a specific member. It's clear to me -- but it's not clear to everybody," said Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), chairman of the Senate ethics committee. She said the committee is getting "these questions that surround the edges -- 'If it's midnight the night before,' 'If I wear one shoe and not the other.' "

Democrats touted the new ethics law as the most thorough housecleaning since Watergate, and needed after a host of scandals during 12 years of Republican rule. Prompted by disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff's wheeling and dealing and the jailing of three members of Congress on corruption charges in recent years, the law, signed by President Bush on Sept. 14, was heralded by congressional leaders as a real change in Washington's influence game.

But the changes have prompted anxiety about what perks are still permissible. In recent months, the House and Senate ethics committees have fielded more than 1,000 questions from lobbyists and congressional staffers seeking guidance -- or an outright waiver -- for rules banning weekend trips and pricey wedding gifts, five-course dinners and backstage passes.

Looking for ways to keep spreading freebies legally, hundreds of lobbyists have been attending seminars at Washington law firms to learn the ins and outs of the new law.

At a recent American League of Lobbyists briefing, Cleta Mitchell of the Foley & Lardner law firm said that while the law bans lobbyists from buying lawmakers or staffers a meal, it is silent on picking up bar tabs. A woman in the third row asked hopefully, "You can buy them as many drinks as you want, as often as you want?"

No, Mitchell said, not unless the drinkers are the lobbyist's personal friends, and she pays from her own pocket.

If that rule was clear to some, two charity dinners allowed hazier interpretations.

[sjc_1]

Isn''t Minnesota the state that had the bridge collapse due to neglect? It would be fitting then that the Republicans would have their convention in that state.

[bizzzz-2009]

At home in Nevada, Sen. Reid''s favorable rating is below President Bush''s
"Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid''s appeal among Nevadans has plunged dramatically in a new Review-Journal poll, which finds him viewed unfavorably by most likely voters in his home state.

[simonsez40]

Let''s push to pass laws to limit the Senate and House to one term (in their lifetime) - any citizen can serve 4-years and they are out! This includes the President........I think this would do away witht lifetime politicians and curb lobbyist a great deal. I''m for making any gift from lobbyist illegal........notta NOTHING or you go to jail........

[adventurepa]

"Lobbying" is just a word used as a euphemism for bribery.
Could not have said it better.
Term limits are the answer even for senators.
Should not be a life long job!!!
Then lets see how hard they work for us!!!

[cfin5]

l8c6,.......Apparently YOU are the one who has not looked into what Ron Paul stands for with your "meth" like induced accusations of what kind of President he would be. Dude, I can''t even say "nice try" to you. Since I have been forthright in a presidential advocate, you post yours and we''ll go from there. If you hadn''t of spelled out Ron Paul''s name in your last post I could have sworn you was talking about Bush, Guliani, or Clinton.........Ron Paul, most constitution protecting candidate for ''08! GO USA!!!

[afmca]

What this article shows is that the corruption and sense of entitlement is so great in Washington in BOTH parties that only by setting term limits and getting EVERYONE out will this problem be resolved. This is an easy issue to resolve. Any normal American could follow both the letter and spirit of the law. Only in DC does one find people so disrespectful of the people they represent that they flaunt it directly in our faces. I am all for getting a Democratic Congress in 2008 - I just want it without the leadership of Pelosi and Reid.

[drinuk]

Well! It took a few weeks to sink in but it now looks like BOTH parties are showing a real fear of Ron Paul, neither were bothered initially but as he gains support they are becoming extremely concerned. His own party are scared stiff of him, which in itself is enough reason to vote for him and as for the rubbish on here concerning the Internet, that is as stupid as saying Al Gore invented it. It was quite obvious that the scare mongers would eventually target him, it is the fear of his detractors being booted off the gravy train which promotes the opposition. A fear that a Good Man will strictly adhere to the constitution and mess up their incestuous relationship with the Corporate Criminals.

If you want more of the same, put your hand in the bag and pull out any other name. America, You maketh the bed you lie upon for the next four years.

[brianbwb-2009]

Getting Around Rules on Lobbying
Washington Post: Members Of Congress And Staff Finding Ways To Accept Perks

The headline and the tag line says it all, politicians will pass weak BS anti corruption rules, then find ways around them.

"Lobbying" is just a word used as a euphemism for bribery.

[l8c6]

Has anyone taken a critical look at what Ron Paul would like to do to the internet? It will be big money that directs it under Ron Paul. It''s the same neo con attack over government regulation. So instead of we the people being able through representation that should be clean of corporate lobbying influencing what interests are supported on the internet, large cable companies etc. will privatize it taking what was developed by tax payers and REGULATING, yes, regulating it big private multinational corporate style. Try voting in a corporation democratically....what a joke. Ron Paul is the same neo con half truth spin. Sounds good until the scam is revealed. It''s the same of what has harmed this country. The early days of Reagan meth...now we''re strong out on right wing libertarian Republicanism. Doesn''t work.

[edward1975-2009]

Ron Paul''s fan base is here on the internet, which really surprises me. With all the info out here, you would think his on-line supporters would research just how he plans on doing some of these things that he promises. But they are taken in by the fairy tales he spins. He tells them what they want to hear, getting rid of the IRS, pulling out of Iraq, cut government spending. Tell them what they want to hear, unfortunately any research will show him to be what he is. Another clown spouting fiction. Gotta give him some credit though, a couple of weeks ago raised about 5 mil through mostly on-line contributions. Which really points to the fact that Americans are truly desperate for some kind of a leader.

[cfin5]

l8c6,....It''s your vote to do with it as you please. Ron Paul''s voting record backs up his words with historical evidence. The other candidates like to hide with fibspinning their voting records. American''s have indeed had enough of that, just not the way far left lib''s and far right neocons perceive......Ron Paul, the constitutional abiding candidate for America in ''08! GO USA!!!

[rharrin1]

Your earlier post at 8:05PM about Ron Paul is incorrect. How you came up with that information is besides me knowing his voting record and constitutional integrity.

Posted by cfin5 at 09:01 PM : Oct 14, 2007

And he was rubber stamping in the LAST congress.

[sidkeith7]

Looks like MOST of the BELTWAY GANGS of both "parties" are bottom-feeding "pretend CHRISTIANS" as well as being liars, cheats, hypocrites and oath breakers!
Who was it that said that "they" hate us for our FREEDOMS? The crassness of MOST of those "elected" continue to display behavior that is enough to gag a gut-wagon maggot and is rampant in all three branches of "government" in the US federal system and is growing worse by the day. It is only a matter of time before the rest of the world will reject what is left of the "LATE, GREAT REPUBLIC" that was the USA before BUSH!

[l8c6]

"Government is not the answer to the problem. Government is the problem."---Reagan

"The most frightening words in the English language are ''I''m from the government, and I''m here to help you.''"---Reagan

This rhetoric form the president of our government was the mantra for societal separatists. Those who aspired toward money and wealth for reasons not altruistic. Half-truths were spun to dupe the middle class, the working backbone of this country out of their representation.

Privatization is to turn america into wall street. Instead of 1 vote for every man and woman, influence is determined via lobbying wealth and someday soon, number of shares owned.

Ron Paul is there referencing the early days of Reagan and he has been a loyal republican for years. I don''t trust his rhetoric because of his track record.

[jn122736]

Re. Post by StopIraq at 01:03 PM Oct 14, 2007
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ron Paul Posters never debate issues; they just post false and/or unachievable claims like:

%u201CHe has never voted to raise taxes.%u201D

%u201CHe has never voted for an unbalanced budget.%u201D

%u201CHe will eliminate the IRS%u201D

Ron Paul voted FOR tax cuts in time of war with no accompanying spending cuts to offset them.
He had to have known this would unbalance the budget, so therefore he definitely voted for an unbalanced budge.

In fact, these tax cuts so unbalanced the budget that the national debt has nearly doubled. Interest on debt has risen to nearly one $1/2 trillion, EVERY year.
This $1/2 trillion comes from taxes so therefore he definitely voted to raise taxes.

Ron Paul cannot simply cancel the $9 trillion national debt and, without taxes (eliminating the IRS), he can%u2019t even pay the ANNUAL interest on the national debt, let alone reduce it,

To do what his supporters claim, would require total shutdown of the tax supported federal government and privatizing everything including the military. Do we need/want Blakwater type security forces to replace our military?
.
Ron Paul = Republican= stay the course=borrow and spend.

[cfin5]

l8c6,....Your earlier post at 8:05PM about Ron Paul is incorrect. How you came up with that information is besides me knowing his voting record and constitutional integrity.

[cfin5]

l8c6,.....I agree. It is also unconstitutional even if I am in favor of say the JONDOE Widgits Inc.''s product. The Halls of Congress are owned by the people. Wall Street is owned by the companies with whom they have to do and should stand on their own success or failures as that is Capitolism. Going around me/us and somehow getting our voted in representatives to legally steal our hard earned money in the Social Security trust (if there is any left) is like Communism/Socialism. For example: Say my product is really starting to take off financially. It is the result of my blood, sweat, and worried tears that has made it start to be successful. Yet a larger company with plenty of capitol, with Capitol Hill bought friends envies my efforts and not happy that I refuse to sell out to them. Whose to say that some mysterious new law comes out of the blue prohibiting with red tape the use of my product. And what if the company is foreign owned that does not adhere to our patent laws in the least. Does this sound too far fetched?

[l8c6]

cfin5,

This is how privatized america is working....just like Wall street. If you have 10,000 shares in america you will have more influence than the person with 500 shares. There will increasingly be less of the idealistic concept of 1 vote for every man and woman. Lobbying is a loophole to the current election process. Bribing politicians out of serving the majority constituency determined by humans not by numerical wealth value has increased in recent years. Privatization will put the final nail in the coffin of representative democracy.

[l8c6]

Ron Paul wants to take us back to the early days of Reaganomic neo con meth use promising all who were high on delusion that it''s possible to get unstrung and go back to the early euphoria of the neo con ideological rhetoric.

[nativewoman]

I am SO proud of the lofty ethics that have become so instilled and treasured here in the United States.

Seminars to teach lobbyists how to skirt the law?

What an exciting idea! Perhaps this new concept can spread to other areas of our society!

Think of it!

Yes! You TOO can learn how to transport drugs and weapons while staying just this side of the law! And all in just one short weekend course!

Learn how to avoid 10 simple mistakes that child molesters often make! It will be the best learning experience you''ve ever undertaken!

USA! USA! USA!