How did this not get more attention?
With reporting deadlines looming, congressional officers have issued revised guidelines that ease some of the lobbying disclosure requirements enacted last year.
The revised guidance, issued by the Clerk of the House and Secretary of the Senate, relaxed the rules for disclosure of lobbyist contributions to parties at this summer’s Democratic and Republican national conventions, among other changes.
So, just as the Democratic convention is getting more and more behind in fundraising, they make it easier for lobbyists for pay for the parties that they can't afford to pay for. How bad is it? From the Wall Street Journal
Under the new guidelines, "it's hard to envision any event at the conventions that would trigger disclosure," said Kenneth Gross, an attorney at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP who advises lobbyists on complying with ethics rules. "This relieves lobbyists from tracking and reporting much information about attending or paying for events involving public officials, that would have been required before."
Just remember this when you see all the promises. What I wonder is where the outrage is.
noone is surprised
bbsci July 19th, 2008 at 12:33 p.m. (link)
It's simply one more piece of evidence of the culture of corruption in Washington. The Republicans campaigned on ethics reform and small government in the 90s, and then presided over the largest increase in federal spending in history in 2000. That might be somewhat debatable, but it's fact in the minds of Americans.
At best you we can honestly say, "Look, Dems are just as bad as we are!" Not much of a campaign slogan.
Frankly, if
mike_volpe July 19th, 2008 at 5:58 p.m. (link)
they are going to look at ethics reform, maybe they should start with the corrupt bill by Chris Dodd. Of course, there is bi partisan corruption there since that bill seemed to pass the Senate overwhelmingly. I guess the Senators were too busy to notice the conflict of interests between Dodd, Bank of America and Countrywide. and went ahead and voted for the bill anyway.
Though, frankly, after watching this bill on the brink of becoming law, I am firmly convinced that corruption is systemic and both parties are equally responsible. That said, the Dems used ethics and corruption as a campaign theme. That, that have totally failed in.