The House and Senate have both passed the conference-committee-resolved legislation to tighten constraints on donations from lobbyists and raise ethics standards in Congress. White House has criticized the legislation, though it is expected Pres. Bush will sign the bill into law. As reported by the LA Times "The measure grew out of a pledge by Democrats to 'drain the swamp' after they won majorities in both congressional chambers in last fall's elections. It passed the Senate, 83-14, after clearing the House, 411-8, earlier this week."

That overwhelming support in both houses of Congress means there is little chance any opposition to the legislation could reflect well on the president, and all will hail the measure as a step forward for efforts to prevent corruption in the legislative and electoral processes. One important measure is to distance outgoing senators from the legislative-lobbying process, so they cannot turn around and begin working with their former colleagues for outside lobbying firms.

The bill also requires senators to pay the full rate for charter passengers when flying on any corporate jets. The NY Times reports "The measure also abolishes the practice of discounted rides on private planes, requiring senators as well as candidates for the Senate or the White House to pay full charter rates for trips. House members would be barred from accepting free trips on private planes."

According to the LA Times, "The legislation would ban lobbyist-paid gifts, limit privately funded travel and double to two years the 'cooling off' period that senators must wait after leaving Capitol Hill before they can lobby their former colleagues. For ex-House members, the waiting period remains one year."

Sen. Obama, a presidential candidate for the Democratic party, and a self-professed reformer who has worked to overhaul ethics rules, says he sees "a lot of good" in the bill. Some have criticized the reforms as "toothless" in certain aspects. The White House has expressed concern over the huge costs of maintaining or "chartering" Air Force One when making "political" or fundraising or campaign-oriented trips.

Sen. John McCain, also a presidential candidate, for the Republican party, complains the bill "has completely gutted the earmark reform provisions we overwhelmingly passed in January". McCain is not the only reformer to complain that the bill has been used as a veiled means of opening already closed loopholes.

Still, Public Citizen, the non-profit watchdog group, has said the bill represents "far-reaching lobbying and ethics reforms." Each bill passed to date has been a part of the puzzle, a step toward making corruption less likely in Washington politics. The problem, in each case, is regulation and enforcement, how sharp the teeth are and in whose mouth the law puts them. [s]

• LA Times: "Ethics overhaul heads to White House"
• NY Times: "Congress Backs Tighter Rules on Lobbying"
• The State: "Congress sends ethics bill to Bush"

BACKGROUND:
HOUSE, SENATE TO HOLD VOTES ON ETHICS REFORM
NEW BILL READY FOR FINAL VOTE: HOUSE VOTE SCHEDULED, CONCERNS SENATE MAY STALL
1 August 2007

The conference committee negotiating differences between House and Senate versions of ethics reform legislation have reached agreement, and the unified bill will be presented to both houses for a final vote, before being sent to the president for signature and passage into law. Negotiators reportedly worked late into the night of 27 July in order to resolve disagreement over language limiting contributions from lobbyists. [Full Story]

REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN BOB NEY PLEADS GUILTY TO BRIBERY, CONSPIRACY IN PROBE LINKED TO ABRAMOFF
NEY MAY NOW FACE MORE THAN TWO YEARS IN PRISON, FINES UP TO $60,000
16 October 2006

On 13 October, Rep. Bob Ney, a Republican from Ohio, admitted he gave political favors in exchange for bribes, pleading guilty on several counts. He will now face sentencing and is expected to resign his seat in Congress, though he has not given a date. Ney is the latest political casualty of a massive corruption investigation involving convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff, anti-tax hawk Grover Norquist, disgraced Texan congressman Tom DeLay, and dozens of other influential Washington figures. [Full Story]

A VAST LEFT-WING CONSPIRACY, SAYS DeLAY
3 October 2005

Under indictment for conspiracy in an alleged scheme to raise illegal campaign cash and conceal it through manipulation of his Political Action Committee, Rep. Tom DeLay (R-TX), stepped aside earlier this week as House Majority Leader. Congressional rules require that he leave his post while facing indictment. He has been reprimanded by Congress three times already for "objectionable behavior". Dissatisfied Republicans are looking for new leadership. [Full Story]

ALLEGED CORRUPTION ON HOUSE FLOOR
8 December 2003

Serious questions have arisen as to the methods used by Republican leaders in the House of Representatives to persuade members of their party to vote in favor of the Medicare prescription drug bill. Conservative columnist Robert Novak broke the story, in which Rep. Nick Smith of Michigan, a Republican who voted against the bill, charged that various colleagues and business interests offered large amounts of money to his son's congressional campaign in exchange for a yes vote. [Full Story]

Thomas Jefferson, letter to Edward Carrington
"If once they [the people] become inattentive to the public affairs, you and I, and Congress, and Assemblies, judges and governors shall all become wolves. It seems to be the law of our general nature, in spite of individual exceptions..."