Curbing lobbyists' enthusiasm

Leveraging GOP abuses of gifts, travel, Democrats offer up new regulations, seek control of Congress

BY J. JIONI PALMER
WASHINGTON BUREAU

January 18, 2006

WASHINGTON - As allegations of shady dealings ooze throughout town, congressional Democrats have launched a coordinated election-year blitz against what they call a Republican-manufactured "culture of corruption" that has resulted in poor public policy decisions.

Bolstered by this month's guilty plea of Republican super-lobbyist Jack Abramoff - who has agreed to cooperate with an ongoing federal investigation of members of Congress and their staffs - Democrats are campaigning on a platform to curb influence-peddling and otherwise improve the crafting of laws.

But while opinion surveys show the American public generally unhappy with the way policy is made, Democrats must contend with the perception that one lawmaker is as crooked as the next, regardless of party.

"There is a real sense of cynicism about the level of corruption in Washington," said Carroll Doherty of the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press. "The feeling among public is it is endemic."

He said a poll conducted after Abramoff's guilty plea found that 81 percent of voters think that "lobbyists bribing members of Congress" is common.

While the public gives Democrats a slight advantage over Republicans in who they think would better stem the alleged abuses, the issue isn't - at least at this point - foremost in voters' minds.

"They're not following the ins and outs terribly closely, but they get a general impression that something need to be fixed," Doherty said.

As a result, both parties have promised reform. House Speaker Dennis Hastert yesterday unveiled the GOP package, which, like an earlier Democratic plan, would end the practice of lobbyists funding lawmakers' trips.

"The current leadership of the House will do the minimum they think is necessary to put this behind them," said Rep. Steve Israel (D-Huntington).

Given the potential breadth of the Abramoff scandal, most observers anticipate some check over the sway of lobbyists - at the very least greater disclosure of their interaction with members of Congress and their staffs.

"In my experience there are very few abuses; having said that, it is important to restore the public's confidence," said Rep. Peter King (R-Seaford).

Besides restricting lobbyists from paying for congressional junkets, the House Democrats' plan also tinkers with a variety of rules. Among the proposed changes: capping the amount of time lawmakers vote on bills at 20 minutes; giving members at least 24 hours to study legislation before they vote; expanding the congressional work week beyond their usual two days; and prohibiting special provisions from being slipped into legislation in order to "buy votes."

Copyright 2006 Newsday Inc.