"Do you remember, back when the spotlight was on Jack Abramoff, how House Republican leaders pledged to get tough on lobbyists? Well, you may; apparently they don't. The House plans this week to take up the Lobbying Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006, a watered-down sham that would provide little in the way of accountability or transparency. If the Senate-passed measure was a disappointment, the House version is simply a joke -- or, more accurately, a ruse aimed at convincing what the leaders must believe is a doltish public that the House has done something to clean up Washington."
Get the Story:Editorial: Sham Lobbying Reform (The Washington Post 4/25)
pwpwd "Congress still doesn't get it. After more than a year of negative headlines about political corruption and money-soaked alliances with lobbyists, House leaders are weakening their already anemic excuse for reform. They hope to pass the plan this week and then, with the glowing pride of grandees doling pennies to the poor, con the public into believing they're actually giving up enough of their prized perks to make a difference." Get the Story:
Editorial: Snow job on lobbying (USA Today 4/25) "One of the first things on the agenda for Congress as it returns to work today after a two-week recess is action on an ethics and lobby reform bill. Unfortunately, the measure before the House does little to reform anything." Get the Story:
Editorial: Weak ethics, lobby reform just won't do it (The Sheboygan Press 4/25) Senate Lobbying Reform Bill:
Legislative Transparency and Accountability Act of 2006 (S.2349) | Section-by-Section Summary Other Lobbying Reform Bills:
Sen. McCain: Lobbying Transparency and Accountability Act of 2005 (S.2128) | Sen. McCain: Reducing Conflicts of Interests in the Representation of Indian Tribes Act of 2005 (S.1312) Related Stories:
Editorial: Lobbying reform doesn't go far enough (03/31)
Senate approves lobbying reform legislation (3/30)
Lobbying proposals target tribes, Native corporations (3/24)
Editorial: Lobbying reform shell game in Washington (3/22)
Lobbyists already figuring out reform loopholes (3/20)
House Republicans to introduce lobbying reform bill (3/15)
Watch out for pet projects in lobbying reform bill (3/7)
Tribal provisions removed from lobbying reform bill (3/1)
Lobbying reform bill to include tribal provisions (2/28)
Sen. Thune helps railroad, a former lobbying client (2/28)
NCAI meets in Washington for winter session (2/27)
Column: Daddy, aren't you one of those lobbyists? (02/22)
FEC official targets tribes and political donations (2/16)
Panel debates tribes and election campaign act (02/09)
FEC clarifies tribal political donation limits (2/9)
Lobbying reform no longer on fast track in Congress (2/9)
Listening Lounge: Hearing on tribes and campaign act (2/8)
Tom Cole on the 'warpath' for political donations (2/6)
Human Events: Closing the tribal donation 'loophole' (2/6)
Campbell says Abramoff shouldn't stop lobbying (2/3)
Tex Hall worried Abramoff scandal may hurt tribes (2/3)
Tribal political donation 'loophole' on the radar (2/2)
House Republicans challenge broad lobbying reforms (2/2)
Tribal political donations at issue in Washington (1/31)
Republicans seek to close tribal donation 'loophole' (1/31)
Pombo has accepted more than $500K from tribes (1/30)
Bush won't release photos he took with Abramoff (1/27)
McCain testifies on lobbying reform proposals (1/26)
Tim Johnson: Don't tar tribes with Abramoff scandal (1/24)
McCain: A 'bipartisan' scandal in Washington (1/23)
Column: Don't expect lobbying reform to lead to reform (1/23)
Reform, gaming on agenda for members of Congress (1/20)
NIGA shies from Jack Abramoff lobbying scandal (1/19)
Bush mum on Abramoff contacts with White House (1/18)
Abramoff scandal claims another casualty (1/16)
Abramoff scandal a hot topic at gaming conference (1/13)
Abramoff pleads guilty in Washington lobbying scandal (01/04)
Burns to return $150K in Abramoff donations (12/16)
Bush discusses Abramoff tribal lobbying scandal (12/15)
McCain set to introduce lobbying reforms (12/15)
Coushatta Tribe made $330K in donations on same day (12/7)
McCain expects 'lots' of indictments over Abramoff (12/5)
Changes in tribal lobbying tactics discussed (12/5)
Dorgan vows to continue Abramoff lobbying probe (11/29)
Another Texas tribe involved in lobbying scandal (11/28)
Inside the BIA, according to Jack Abramoff (11/24)
Plea deal raises more questions about scandal (11/24)
Plea deal raises more questions about scandal (11/22)
Scanlon free to cooperate in lobbying probe (11/22)
Scanlon pleads guilty in lobbying probe (11/21)
Abramoff lobbying inquiry far from over (11/18)
Jack Abramoff lobbying probe touches DOI (10/26)
Pombo has received $90K from tribes this year (10/20)
Pombo collected $40K from tribes so far this year (04/25)
FEC ruling separates tribes from their businesses (03/14)
Pombo took $5K from tribe with bill before committee (07/19)
Pombo accepts money from tribes, tribal lobbyists (06/22)