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Lobbying overhaul moves at slow pace

The Senate passed its version at the end of March and the House bill was approved in early May. In the month since, the House has not taken the next step, naming negotiators for talks with the Senate on a compromise bill.

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published June 5, 2006

WASHINGTON - The smell of scandal on Capitol Hill remains five months after lobbyist Jack Abramoff pleaded guilty to influence-peddling charges, but a lobbying overhaul has yet to see the light of day.

The Senate passed its version at the end of March and the House bill was approved in early May. In the month since, the House has not taken the next step, naming negotiators for talks with the Senate on a compromise bill.

In the meantime:

•  Rep. William Jefferson, D-La., has yet to explain how $90,000 in alleged bribery money ended up in his freezer.

•  Rep. Bob Ney, R-Ohio, is under investigation for his ties with Abramoff.

•  Former Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas is resigning from Congress this week, battered by the guilty pleas of two former aides in the Abramoff probe and facing a trial himself in Texas on election-related money laundering charges.

It was only in January that Republicans and Democrats battled for the ethical high ground. They proposed to outlaw privately funded travel, ban gifts from lobbyists, and slow the move of former lawmakers to lobbying jobs.

Rep. David Dreier, R-Calif., who has led GOP lobbying efforts in the House, said at the time he hoped to pass a bill by the end of February.

That did not happen for two reasons, according to an analyst.

Congress stumbled over how to rein in lobbyists without violating their constitutional right to petition the government, and lawmakers were sidetracked by immigration legislation, extending tax breaks and other priorities, said Rutgers University political scientist Ross Baker.

The public has not pressed the lobbying issue because "most ordinary Americans really don't think much can be done," Baker said.

Dreier's spokeswoman, Jo Maney, said GOP leaders could appoint negotiators to the House-Senate conference soon after Congress returns from the Memorial Day recess. She said the effort to reach consensus on the bill has been a challenge because some lawmakers are opposed to changes while others favor revamping the entire system.

[Last modified June 5, 2006, 05:40:13]