There were plenty of clues that the House bill to control lobbying and gifts for Congress members was not going to generate significant change. And that appears to be exactly how things are turning out.
The cost estimates of the bill prepared by the Congressional Budget Office, for example, noted that the cost would be limited. For example, there would be little additional cost to the private sector by banning lobbyists from traveling on private planes with Congress members. Why? Because the bill would not prohibit the lobbyists’ clients “from traveling on such planes with a Member delegate, resident commissioner, officer or employee of the House,” said the CBO. Even the limited prohibition against having lobbyists on the plane expires shortly after the election.
And the bill, set to be voted on by the full House on Thursday, continues to get weaker. Language requiring lobbyists to report their fundraising activities and contacts with lawmakers has been removed.
The powerful head of the House Appropriations Committee, Rep Jerry Lewis, R-Calif., also plans to oppose provisions in the bill to curtail the use of earmarks — money for pet projects back in members’ home districts that is often tucked into much larger spending bills at the last minute. A spokesman for Lewis reiterated to Govexec.com his boss’ contention that earmark limits should apply to tax bills and other legislation as well as appropriations bills as set forth in the House legislation.
What remains to be seen is the “remains”: what’s in the final version of the Lobbying Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006. And how American voters assess the final result come November.
