Lobbying Reform Slow Despite Scandals

Rep. William Jefferson, D-La., and Rep. Bob Ney, R-Ohio, are shown in file photos. The Justice Department is already conducting investigations against Jefferson and Ney and on May 18, 2006, the House ethics committee ethics voted to begin investigations against Jefferson and Ney. The stench of scandal on Capitol Hill is getting stronger five months after lobbyist Jack Abramoff pleaded guilty to influence-peddling charges, but a lobbying overhaul has yet to see the light of day. (AP Photo/File) (AP)

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 any changes while others favor revamping the entire system.

The House bill emphasizes greater disclosure of lobbyist activities and requires approval beforehand for privately funded trips. The measure does not change current limits on meals and gifts that representatives can receive from lobbyists.

The Senate bill bans senators and staff from accepting meals from lobbyists and extends from one to two years the waiting period before a retired senator can lobby former colleagues. The bill requires lobbyists to disclose their activities in grassroots lobbying, where the public is encouraged to contact lawmakers through phone calls or television ads.

Both bills take steps to further identify the source and purpose of earmarks, the pet projects inserted in larger bills.

The House limits contributions to independent political groups known as 527s, for the section of the tax code that covers them. Senate Democrats strongly oppose this idea. While both parties took advantage of help from these groups in 2004, Democrats had greater success in raising money through them.

Neither bill would change the current practice whereby members pay only the price of a first-class ticket when they catch rides on corporate jets.

Paul Miller, president of the American League of Lobbyists, said neither bill sufficiently addresses how to better enforce current rules to deal with a lawbreaker such as Abramoff.

Since January, Miller said, there has been a subtle shift in how lobbyists do business. Now, both lawmakers and lobbyists are "going above and beyond" to avoid any semblance of impropriety, he said.

Lawmakers "being scared to talk to us is fading, which is a good thing," he said, but meetings are more likely to take place in offices rather than at a game or over dinner.

Wertheimer said there was a good chance Congress will pass a bill before the November election. But he said it is clear that such legislation would not have any effect on how influence seekers function in Washington.

"The bill we expect to come out of Congress," he said, "is going to be treated as a nonentity."