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S.1
Watchdogs press Pelosi to change ethics rules
Written by Paul Blumenthal on February 6, 2008 - 11:29am.
Read more: House Ethics Committee | S.1 (see all terms)
Read more: House Ethics Committee | S.1 (see all terms)
Source Name
The Hill
Snippit
Six watchdog groups are calling on Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to withdraw the official House ethics guidelines on lobbyist-sponsored convention parties and rewrite them to comport with a new, stricter Senate interpretation.
Manufacturing group sues over ethics law
Written by Paul Blumenthal on February 6, 2008 - 11:28am.
Read more: HLOGA | National Association of Manufacturers | S.1 (see all terms)
Read more: HLOGA | National Association of Manufacturers | S.1 (see all terms)
Source Name
The Hill
Snippit
The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) is suing the federal government over the new lobbying and ethics law, saying the measure infringes on their constitutional rights for freedom of association.
S.1 In Action: Senate Ethics Committee Reports
I've spent a lot of time on this blog deriding the Senate Ethics Committee - and the frivolous complaints leveled by Sen. John Ensign against the current ethics process - for failing to investigate Senators who have allegedly violated the trust of their office (or the law, in the case of Sen. Ted Stevens). Thanks to the recently passed ethics bill, S.1, we finally get some transparency in the Ethics Committee and some statistical information about the committee's activities. The Committee is now required to issue an annual report of activity. Here are some highlights:
Number of alleged violations received in 2007 (from any source): 95 (not including the 16 carried over from 2006)
Number of alleged violations dismissed in 2007 (including 7 cases carried over from 2006): 86 (71 for lack of jurisdiction; 15 for failure to provide sufficient facts)
Number of alleged violations which resulted in a preliminary hearing: 16 (includes 9 matters carried over from 2006 and 5 matters that have carried into 2008)
Number of alleged violations that resulted in adjudicatory review: 0
Number of alleged violations dismissed for lack of substantial merit: 11 (includes 7 matters carried over from 2006)
Number of matters resulting in disciplinary action: 0
Written by Paul Blumenthal on February 1, 2008 - 12:17pm.
Read more: Committee Transparency | Larry Craig | Pete Domenici | S.1 | Senate Ethics Committee | Transparency (see all terms)
Loophole on event tickets splits panels
Written by Paul Blumenthal on January 22, 2008 - 11:40am.
Read more: House Ethics Committee | Lobbyists | S.1 | Senate Ethics Committee (see all terms)
Read more: House Ethics Committee | Lobbyists | S.1 | Senate Ethics Committee (see all terms)
Source Name
The Hill
Snippit
The Senate and House ethics committees have split over whether to allow lobbyists to take advantage of a longstanding loophole in the congressional gift ban in the wake of sweeping ethics reform passed last year.
Lobbying Reform Claims Longtime Lawmaker
During debate on the recently enacted lobbying and ethics reforms (see S. 1 for details) one of the most contentious points was the imposition of a two-year lobbying ban on former lawmakers and staff. Many observers declared that this extension of the "cooling off" period would cause some lawmakers and staff to depart before the new law came into effect and now there is evidence that some politicians aren't willing to wait to cash out. Sen. Trent Lott, a long time member of Congress, announced his surprise retirement today declaring that he would resign by year's end. CNN reported:
A senior Republican source close to Lott said one reason for the decision is the new lobbying restrictions on former lawmakers.
A law kicks in on January 1 that forbids lawmakers from lobbying for two years after leaving office. Those who leave by the end of 2007 are covered by the previous law, which demands a wait of only one year.
Lott was a constant critic during the lobbying reform debate, particularly offended by the banning of most gifts, including meals, to lawmakers. He complained that members would be forced to eat at McDonald's if such a rule would be implemented. It's unfortunate that members of Congress need to leave public service to make big bucks in the influence game, but that seems to be the nature of things when you can make ten times as much money by spinning out the door to K Street.
Written by Paul Blumenthal on November 26, 2007 - 11:57am.
Read more: Lobbying/Ethics Reform | Lobbyists | S.1 | Trent Lott (see all terms)
GOP turns ethics tables
Written by Paul Blumenthal on November 2, 2007 - 10:52am.
Read more: Ethics | Lobbying/Ethics Reform | Point of order | S.1 (see all terms)
Read more: Ethics | Lobbying/Ethics Reform | Point of order | S.1 (see all terms)
Source Name
The Hill
Snippit
Senate Republicans said Thursday they would invoke new ethics rules to block Democratic efforts to send to President Bush the first appropriations package of the 110th Congress.
Seeing the Ethics Rules, and Raising an Exception
Written by Paul Blumenthal on October 23, 2007 - 10:26am.
Read more: Lobbying/Ethics Reform | Lobbyists | S.1 (see all terms)
Read more: Lobbying/Ethics Reform | Lobbyists | S.1 (see all terms)
Source Name
Washington Post
Snippit
Shhhh! Don't tell anyone, but lobby groups are plotting all sorts of ways to get around the new ethics rules.
'Distinguished Gentleman, May I Have Her Hand . . .?'
Written by Paul Blumenthal on October 9, 2007 - 10:08am.
Read more: Lobbying/Ethics Reform | Lobbyists | S.1 (see all terms)
Read more: Lobbying/Ethics Reform | Lobbyists | S.1 (see all terms)
Source Name
Washington Post
Snippit
The new ethics law has K Street in an uproar. Questions about what is and what is not permitted have flooded into law firms.
Pelosi, Dems praise lobbying reform
Written by Paul Blumenthal on September 17, 2007 - 10:16am.
Read more: Lobbying/Ethics Reform | S.1 (see all terms)
Read more: Lobbying/Ethics Reform | S.1 (see all terms)
Source Name
The Hill
Snippit
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) on Friday hailed President Bush’s decision to sign lobbying reform legislation, which Congress passed by overwhelming margins this summer.
President Signs Lobbying and Ethics Reform
It's officially signed. See this post below about what goes into effect and when. You can read the President's statement and concerns below:
Written by Paul Blumenthal on September 14, 2007 - 4:30pm.
Read more: Lobbying/Ethics Reform | S.1 (see all terms)
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Today's Ethics Watch
No money coming to Young’s legal defense: Alaska congressman Don Young (R) is having trouble getting contributions to his legal defense fund. A document filed with the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct shows “no activity” since the fund was approved by the committee on Jan. 9. (The Hill)
Seats of Power: A Return to Skybox Lobbying?: Not long ago, lobbyists regularly entertained lawmakers and their aides in skyboxes at local sports arenas. But after a series of scandals on Capitol Hill, the law was changed to forbid congressional officials from accepting anything of value from lobbyists without repayment -- let alone the best seats in the house. (Washington Post)
Companies Start to Lift Veil on Political Spending: Ever wonder how much companies really spend to influence government through trade associations? Well, a few corporations are coming clean, or at least cleaner. (Washington Post)
Dems, GOP together nix Murtha earmark: Democrats and Republicans joined together to strip a pet project of Rep. John Murtha’s (D-Pa.) from the 2009 intelligence authorization bill — the same project Democrats defended last year. (The Hill)
NAPA launches collaboration Web site: If you’ve ever wished your federal agency could adopt wikis, use YouTube or delve into the virtual world but feared the security, technology and political barriers were too high to overcome, take heart. You’ve got supporters, and they have success stories. (NextGov)
Jefferson lawyers cite race case in change of venue request: Rep. William Jefferson’s (D-La.) lawyers have asked a federal judge to reconsider a ruling denying a change of venue for his corruption trial. (The Hill)
Jefferson Tries New Argument: Rep. William Jefferson (D-La.) has asked a federal court to use an international criminal law treaty to force the depositions of three people in Nigeria who have been implicated in corruption charges levied against him. (Roll Call)
Foreign Gifts Test Rules: Even as new ethics restrictions have made it difficult for Members and staff to accept gifts — aside from token baseball caps or T-shirts — one area remains where lawmakers and their staffs can collect trinkets more or less guilt-free: foreign travel. (Roll Call)
K St.’s ‘Max Out’ Crowd: The 20 top K Street donors this election cycle have handed federal candidates nearly $1.8 million in personal cash. The majority of that money, $1.3 million, has gone to help Democrats as the party in charge of Capitol Hill looks to expand its majority. (Roll Call)
Senator’s Ties to Real Estate Draw Criticism: He has made millions as a title insurance executive, landlord and real estate developer in this college town, where the economy, despite trouble nationwide, is still growing nicely. Now, as a United States senator, with the mortgage mess fueling a national economic slowdown, Richard C. Shelby has more say over the revamping of housing finance laws than almost anyone else in Congress. (New York Times)
Oil Lobby Reaches Out to Citizens Peeved at the Pump: Faced with a national outcry over the high price of gasoline and soaring profits for energy companies, the oil and gas industry is waging an unusually pricey campaign to burnish its image. (Washington Post)
[ More in the Archive ]
Seats of Power: A Return to Skybox Lobbying?: Not long ago, lobbyists regularly entertained lawmakers and their aides in skyboxes at local sports arenas. But after a series of scandals on Capitol Hill, the law was changed to forbid congressional officials from accepting anything of value from lobbyists without repayment -- let alone the best seats in the house. (Washington Post)
Companies Start to Lift Veil on Political Spending: Ever wonder how much companies really spend to influence government through trade associations? Well, a few corporations are coming clean, or at least cleaner. (Washington Post)
Dems, GOP together nix Murtha earmark: Democrats and Republicans joined together to strip a pet project of Rep. John Murtha’s (D-Pa.) from the 2009 intelligence authorization bill — the same project Democrats defended last year. (The Hill)
NAPA launches collaboration Web site: If you’ve ever wished your federal agency could adopt wikis, use YouTube or delve into the virtual world but feared the security, technology and political barriers were too high to overcome, take heart. You’ve got supporters, and they have success stories. (NextGov)
Jefferson lawyers cite race case in change of venue request: Rep. William Jefferson’s (D-La.) lawyers have asked a federal judge to reconsider a ruling denying a change of venue for his corruption trial. (The Hill)
Jefferson Tries New Argument: Rep. William Jefferson (D-La.) has asked a federal court to use an international criminal law treaty to force the depositions of three people in Nigeria who have been implicated in corruption charges levied against him. (Roll Call)
Foreign Gifts Test Rules: Even as new ethics restrictions have made it difficult for Members and staff to accept gifts — aside from token baseball caps or T-shirts — one area remains where lawmakers and their staffs can collect trinkets more or less guilt-free: foreign travel. (Roll Call)
K St.’s ‘Max Out’ Crowd: The 20 top K Street donors this election cycle have handed federal candidates nearly $1.8 million in personal cash. The majority of that money, $1.3 million, has gone to help Democrats as the party in charge of Capitol Hill looks to expand its majority. (Roll Call)
Senator’s Ties to Real Estate Draw Criticism: He has made millions as a title insurance executive, landlord and real estate developer in this college town, where the economy, despite trouble nationwide, is still growing nicely. Now, as a United States senator, with the mortgage mess fueling a national economic slowdown, Richard C. Shelby has more say over the revamping of housing finance laws than almost anyone else in Congress. (New York Times)
Oil Lobby Reaches Out to Citizens Peeved at the Pump: Faced with a national outcry over the high price of gasoline and soaring profits for energy companies, the oil and gas industry is waging an unusually pricey campaign to burnish its image. (Washington Post)
[ More in the Archive ]