Sunday, February 11, 2007

Lobbyists find ways to get around new rules

It should not surprise anyone, but lobbyists and politicians have already found ways to get around new U. S. House laws designed to curb their influence and restore at least a little bit of faith in the political process.
An article in today's New York Times details just how this is being done:

In just the last two months, lawmakers invited lobbyists to help pay for a catalog of outings: lavish birthday parties in a lawmaker’s honor ($1,000 a lobbyist), martinis and margaritas at Washington restaurants (at least $1,000), a California wine-tasting tour (all donors welcome), hunting and fishing trips (typically $5,000), weekend golf tournaments ($2,500 and up), a Presidents' Day weekend at Disney World ($5,000), parties in South Beach in Miami ($5,000), concerts by the Who or Bob Seger ($2,500 for two seats), and even Broadway shows like "Mary Poppins" and "The Drowsy Chaperone" (also $2,500 for two).
The lobbyists and their employers typically end up paying for the events, but within the new rules.
Instead of picking up the lawmaker’s tab, lobbyists pay a political fund-raising committee set up by the lawmaker. In turn, the committee pays the legislator's way
.


As you might expect, the article contains many quotes from elected officials who have no problem whatsoever with these shenanigans.

No comments: