Friday, July 28, 2006

Lobbyists happy with so-called "reform"

There can be no better indication that Congress is using smoke and mirrors on the lobby reform issue than the fact that lobbyists are thrilled with what is happening.
Consider this passage from an article in today's Washington Post:

Lobbyists are gleeful that the bill might be dead. "We went from people wanting to eliminate lobbying, to bans, and members taking a step back and thinking about what is realistic," said Paul A. Miller, president of the American League of Lobbyists. "I'm happy where things are right now."


What Miller thinks is realistic is doing nothing that would make his job any more difficult. In the immediate aftermath of the revelation of the Jack Abramoff scandal, reforms mentioned including targeting meals and travel paid for by lobbyists. Those ideas are no longer on the table.
Whenever such suggestions are made, either in Washington or in Jefferson City, legislators cry that they can't be bought for a sandwich and a drink. Maybe not, but that sandwich and that drink do buy access, and that's more than most of us ever get.

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