K Street Confidential
So what about this ballyhooed reform plan? No doubt Republicans and Democrats will be racing to outreform each other, and that may be a good thing. Some helpful ideas: ban lobbyist-sponsored trips, lengthen the time ex-pols and staff must wait before lobbying (now it's just a year), require more disclosure of lobbyist contacts, and, hey, maybe even outlaw Washington fundraisers. All of this would be good, but here's the scam nobody's talking about: Members can set up their own personal charities and use them to disburse funds to whomever they please. "It's now a part of every lobbyist's strategy,"one lobbyist told me. "And there's lots of room for abuse." Ya think?
But all is not lost, at least not yet. After all, there's one really great thing about congressional leadership races: They are held by secret ballot. Just last week, the two top candidates for majority leader were claiming they were close to victory. That's probably what each man has been told, but members can pledge their support and then do exactly as they please. Backbenchers have complicated matters deliciously by urging their colleagues not to commit publicly to anyone. Last week, one dark horse emerged--John Shadegg of Arizona, promising real reform. I say the more the merrier. After all, the Republican majority hangs in the balance--and members just might get bold when it's in their own self-interest. And when the vote is secret.
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