Democrats Unveil Lobbying Curbs

As much as I want the lobbying "culture of corruption" to end, what I really want is the end of the corporate culture of corruption to end. Were that accomplished the rest of this--which will only be sidestepped again--would be a moot point.

Democrats Unveil Lobbying Curbs: "Democratic leaders from the House and Senate endorsed proposals that closely mirror Republican plans unveiled this week to tighten regulations on lobbyists since the Jack Abramoff political corruption scandal broke. But in a sign that an ethical 'arms race' may be developing, the Democratic plans go further than the Republicans' proposals.

House and Senate Democrats gather at the Library of Congress to offer more restrictive measures to regulate lobbying than Republicans proposed.
House and Senate Democrats gather at the Library of Congress to offer more restrictive measures to regulate lobbying than Republicans proposed.

Rather than limiting the value of a gift to $20, as House Republicans are considering, Democrats would prohibit all gifts from lobbyists. Democrats also take direct aim at some of the legislative practices that have become established in the past 10 years of Republican rule in Congress. They vowed to end the K Street Project, under which Republicans in Congress pressure lobbying organizations to hire only Republican staff members and contribute only to Republican candidates.

Lawmakers would have to publicly disclose negotiations over private-sector jobs, a proposal inspired by then-House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman W.J. 'Billy' Tauzin's job talks in 2003 that led to his hiring as president of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America in January 2005. Executive branch officials who are negotiating private-sector jobs would need approval from the independent Office of Governmental Ethics"