Columns

A Capitol idea: Put in a rogues ' gallery

By PHILIP GAILEY
Published November 5, 2006

If Democrats regain control of one or both houses of Congress in Tuesday's elections, the first thing they should do is fumigate the U.S. Capitol to rid the place of the stench of ethics rot and political sleaze left behind by House Republicans. Once this grand edifice is aired out, Democrats then can demonstrate that they are serious about ethics reform, a subject they have belabored in the campaign.

But first, permit me to make a suggestion. Let's try a little shame along with reform. The corridors of the Capitol are lined with marble statues and oil portraits of many of the giants of American political history. Maybe somewhere in the basement we could find space for a Hall of Shame featuring the likes of Tom DeLay, Randy (Duke) Cunningham, Mark Foley and all those lawmakers who sold out to Jack Abramoff, the lobbyist who corrupted everyone and everything he touched in Washington. Democrats, of course, have had their share of scandals when they were in charge, so they would be well represented in the gallery.

There would be no marble or oil canvases in the Hall of Shame. I think black and white photos - or police mugs in some cases - in cheap metal frames would be appropriate. The standard for being included in this gallery would be a criminal conviction or a serious ethics violation that betrayed the public trust and resulted in a reprimand or expulsion. The photo display would distinguish between criminal corruption and ethical misconduct - convicted felons on one wall, ethics violators on another. Mark Foley and the late Gerry Studds deserve their own special place. Foley, a Florida Republican, resigned his House seat after coming on to male congressional pages. He blamed alcohol. Studds, a Massachusetts Democrat, was reprimanded for having sex with a male page in the early '70s. He refused to apologize and was re-elected.

The Hall of Shame should be a regular stop on Capitol tours, with guides calling out names of the disgraced and explaining their misdeeds and crimes to tourists. There would have to be room for expansion, of course, because there are likely to be future congressional scandals no matter which party is in power.

I know this idea won't play in Washington, where shame is alien to the city's political culture and the words "mistakes were made" is as close as anyone comes to admitting wrongdoing. So I guess we'll have to hope ethics reform can do the job.

Rep. Nancy Pelosi of California, who is in line to become speaker in a Democratic House, has said her first order of business would be to clean up what she calls the "culture of corruption" in Congress. And she sounds like she means business.

If Pelosi has her way, lawmakers and lobbyists would have to find new ways to scratch each other's back. Pelosi wants a ban on gifts and travel, which means House members and their staff would have to give up corporate jets, meals, tickets and entertainment provided by lobbyists. This would be a heavy blow to the sense of entitlement that our lawmakers have developed.

According to the Washington Post, the ban would apply not only to gifts from lobbyists but also to gifts from nongovernmental groups that employ lobbyists.

And what about former members of Congress who become lobbyists and take advantage of their congressional perks? Pelosi wants to jam the revolving door. In her House, lawmakers who become high-paid lobbyists would lose their access to the House gym, the House floor and House cloak rooms, where the real dealmaking is done.

Pelosi also has vowed to take aim at the corrupting influence of "earmarks," a euphemism for pork barrel spending projects and special interest favors that are often attached to major legislation at the last minute and with little or no notice.

According to the Post, "Pelosi would end the practice of adding measures to bills after House-Senate negotiators have completed their work. She would also insist that bills be made available to the public at least 24 hours before they could be voted on by the full House; some types of bills would have to be available for three days."

Republicans have demonized Pelosi as a "San Francisco Democrat" or a "Michael Moore Democrat." But if she becomes House speaker and cleans up the joint, I think most Americans will applaud her leadership. Of course, if Pelosi really wants to get the attention of lawmakers and lawbreakers, she could rally her party behind my idea for a Hall of Shame.

I know, fat chance.

[Last modified November 4, 2006, 22:02:32]