K Street

K Street columnist Jeffrey Birnbaum was online to discuss the intersection of business, politics and government on Tuesday, Jan. 30 at 3 p.m. ET.

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Jeffrey Birnbaum: Hello everyone.

I have written about a couple "new ideas" over the last two weeks. And my e-mail has been wild with comments about them.

Tell me what you think, please.

The first idea would deny congressional pensions to former lawmakers who register to lobby. Former elected officials would be allowed to take taxpayer money directly through pensions or indirectly by pleading for government benefits--but not both.

Write in and tell me what you think.

The second idea, which I mentioned in my column today, came from Fred Wertheimer. Fred would require lobbyists to name which earmarks, or narrow projects, they are lobbying for specifically and to name their legislative sponsors as well.

A good idea?

Please write in and let me know, here in this chat, one way or the other.

Ok, so let's get started.

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Clifton, Va.: Nice article on HSUS. However you left out the fact that HSUS and PETA are allies much in the same way the Sinn Fein and the IRA were 25 years ago. Those of us involved in performance dog sports and breed rescue do not trust the HSUS and will have nothing to do with the organization since it is a front for the terrorist organization PETA. We are know that HSUS supports PETA goals regarding pet wonership which is no pet ownership and the complete elimination of dog sports like agility, obedience, lure coursing, tracking, rally and fox hunting. And the vehement hatred of my dog sport herding trialing! Those of us involved in dog sports and breed rescue spend a lot of time educating folks to the dangers of HSUS and PETA and how they are a dogs worst enemy. It is also a shame that HSUS and PETA are out to get those involved in Search and Rescue with their dogs too. Shame you fell for their propoganda sir. HSUS staff and the head of the organziation you profiled need to be sent to GITMO since they support the PETA terrorists!

Jeffrey Birnbaum: Thank you for this addendum to my column.

I did not get into everything about the animal rights or animal welfare movement. I simply didn't have room.

But, via e-mail, I have heard from lots of people like you who are no fans of what the Humane Society lobbies for.

And also, I should point out, I got some mail from folks who are very happy with the Humane Society's new muscular actions in politics.

What do you think? Is the Humane Society humane? Is it a good idea for the organization to be so political?

Write in, please, and let me know.

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Arlington, Va.: I work in the Department of Education building that some adherents are seeking to name after Lyndon Johnson. It seems a decent idea as LBJ did push two of the basic laws that guide education, the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and the Higher Education Act. The building would be a block away from the Humphrey Building, named after LBJ's Vice President, and behind a block of land soon to be an Eisenhower Memorial. As the building has the unappetizing name of Federal Building Six, naming it after LBJ would be something to give it better recognition.

Jeffrey Birnbaum: That's exactly what the advocates for the change say. They also note, and I was amazed to hear this, that there is currently no public building in Washington named for LBJ. That seems odd, don't you think?

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Pittsburgh, Pa.: Any thoughts on the recent merger between Kirkpatrick Lockhart & Preston Gates. The latter has a fairly sizable DC lobbying practice.

Jeffrey Birnbaum: That's part of a very large trend, I think. Big law firms are getting bigger all over the country as mergers proliferate.

As my In the Loop colleague Al Kamen pointed out, one of the peculiaries to the merger is that former deputy interior secretary Griles will now find himself represented by the same firm that once employed Jack Abramoff. Griles is being probed for getting too close to the disgraced lobbyist.

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Vienna: How are business lobbyists reacting to a Democratic Congress? Any differences across industries? Are they worried that the Democrats could win it all (President, Senate, House) in 2008?

Jeffrey Birnbaum: Business is not monolithic. In the overall sense, I guess, it leans Republican. But most big companies have been carefully bipartisan for a long, long time. They plan for the types of changes that occurred last November.

At the same time, lots of businesses are scrambling to beef up their Democratic lobbying roster and adjusting to a very new set of issues and challenges.

There will be lots of stories, including in my column, about those kinds of abrupt changes. Some are silly and some serious.

Stay tuned.

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Woodbridge, Va.: The new lobbying and ethics rules would allow free travel for members of Congress if it was paid for by an educational group. How long before lobbyist and trade associations set up phoney educational foundations to funnel all their junkets through?

Jeffrey Birnbaum: Actually, the other part of that loophole is that nonprofit foundations, 501C3's, can also pay for lawmaker travel. And most of the biggest lobbying groups already have one of those, and will use them even more than they do already to fund legislator and staff trips. The loophole was pressed by AIPAC, which is one of the biggest financiers of lawmaker and staff travel--via its nonprofit foundation affiliate.

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Chatham, N.Y.:

Thank you for your article but as a long time supporter of the Humane Society I told them in Nov I will never give them money again after they supported our local Republican Congressman(who was defeated) because he voted against eating horses, a very admirable position but they didn't look far enough to see that one of the things that defeated him was allegations of spousal abuse. Blind lobbying and support of candidates on one issue needs to be looked at with a skeptical eye.

Jeffrey Birnbaum: I can see your point here. The Humane Society, like so many interest groups, see the world through their own prism, and do not take in the larger picture. That's why it's probably good for democracy that there are lots of interest groups.

The more they collide with each better, the better off we are all, I think.

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Alexandria, Va.: I agree heartily with both your intro proposals.

Jeffrey Birnbaum: Thank you.

I know that we will hear more about the second of them--the Wertheimer plan. I understand that Shays and Meehan, that reform duo in the House, will push for a version.

As for the first one, I am doubtful. I recently broadcast some commentary about the State of the Union with two former lawmakers, a Democrat and a Republicans, and they both gave me a lot of grief about even mentioning the idea (not my own, by the way) of taking away their pensions. They both lobby, of course.

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Washington, D.C.: Do lobbyists mind Pelosi's smoking ban in the Capitol?

Jeffrey Birnbaum: The ones that smoke do.

But most Americans are becoming accustomed to not being allowed to smoke in public places.

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Philadelphia, Pa.: Three cheers for the writer from Indianapolis! It is ludicrous for taxpayers to pay pensions to people who had theoretically once worked in their best interests, when as lobbyists they work against them. They should have to choose.

In addition, no one, and I mean no one, who has worked for the Federal Government, be as an elected official or a staffer, should be allowed to work as a lobbyist for three (3) years after leaving their elected/staffer position.

Instituting both of these ethical reforms would certainly be in the best interests of all Americans.

Jeffrey Birnbaum: Three years! Wow. The current betting in Congress is that a two year period is what might be enacted eventually.

But let me back off a bit here. Last year lawmakers promised ethics and lobbying reforms, and even passed versions in the House and Senate. But in the end, nothing happened. There was not bill.

So until things get closer to actually happening--that is becoming a reconciled bill between the House and Senate and is on the verge of final passage, I am refusing to predict what will happen when it comes to ethics reform.

Wise, yes?

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Plymouth Meeting, Pa.: That idea about rescinding pensions to former Congressmen who decide to be lobbyists is a great idea. However, I doubt whether either party wants it.

Their hand is on the till, and lobbying is the till.

Also, it would probably be found to be unconstitutional. Not that ever stopped venality.

Jeffrey Birnbaum: I tend to agree with you about it not happening.

In fact, before we see truly tough lobbying legislation I think we need to have another lobbying scandal.

Short of that, I bet the loopholes in the law will get larger than the law itself.

Too skeptical for you?

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San Francisco, Calif.: Does Congress realize how absurd this pension-for-felons debate sounds outside the Beltway? Private companies change their pension plans all the time; the argument that Congress can't change the pension for currently incarcerated alumni really doesn't hold water. Is there any way Congress will plug this million-dollar pension-for-felons waste, or are they all worried for themselves down the road?

Jeffrey Birnbaum: I think that future felons are likely to be affected. Past felons, maybe not.

That probably adds to your adsurdity factor.

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Via E-mail: Mr. Birnbaum,

I've long found it disturbing that a person may be elected to federal office, serve as little as one term, and receive a full government pension. How many average Joes or Janes get 'vested return' that quickly?

I don't anticipate the proposal would 'jam the revolving door' but it may have an impact on 'feeding at the public trough'. I like the proposal because it may help to stem entitlement creep but not career opportunities. Realistically, human societies is based on who you know and what influence or power can you exert raises your 'status value'.

It's tempting to cite a series of platitudes on how serving the public is a privilege, worthy sacrifices are required, how our capitalist based society discourages the best and brightest from public service, but a short email would not begin to do justice to the subject. But let me say this - How our political system has evolved to encourage career legislators, and the creeping dependence on government and lobbyist largess, would deeply disturb our Founding Fathers.

Jeffrey Birnbaum: I don't think our founding fathers would believe what they find now in downtown Washington, I agree. So big and multi-layered and expensive.

What they would be most amazed by, though, is that it will be even larger down the road--almost no matter what changes about the lobbying rules.

The basic issue is the size of the central government and its activism, I believe.

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Louisville, Ky.: I agree with Mr. Wertheimer: Those who have business before our government should be required to disclose what that business is. One of the great failings of the 'support' we're giving our troops, is the massive boondoggle the contract procurement process has been. No-bid and handouts without any oversight or control has escalated the cost of the war (in terms of the essential non-weaponry support materiel) beyond the traditional levels of abuse perpetrated by the weapons makers.

Jeffrey Birnbaum: There you go, then: another vote for Fred!

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New York, N.Y.: So, Jeffrey, those two lawmakers who argued against your pension proposal -- what were their arguments besides the obvious self-serving ones? Did they make any points at all that took into account the public interest?

Thanks!

Jeffrey Birnbaum: Well, they see lobbying as a right that they exercise--for a fee, and a legitimate fee at that.

They also don't see why former lawmakers should be condemned to relative poverity. I emphasize relative here.

Certainly, they both believed that there were vastly underpaid when they were lawmakers and, I guess, they think they are now catching up for lost time.

We did not discuss the public interest. After all, we were working that night.

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Arlington: The thing with lobbying groups is that they turn the concept of a representative's representing his/her constituents into his/her representing the consituents who can afford to pay lobbyists. it is a good idea at heart--getting the ear of your gov't--but in practice it has gotten pretty revolting.

Jeffrey Birnbaum: From one perspective, this is a better answer to the last question than the one I just gave.

But I am not revolted. I am fascinated by the entire cycle and (seem to) never tire of chronicling what it all means.

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Cincinnati, Ohio: Jeff: Only Beltway insiders (the Indianapolis bit must be a fraud) might think that denying pensions to congresspersons-turned-lobbyists would be seen as reformist.

Out in the Real World, we don't want congresspersons to get pensions, or any other post-service benefits at all, because we want to discourage them from making a career out of it. And if they can't manage to put a portion of their six-figure salaries into an IRA (do they have a 401k or similar plan?), well, poor babies.

We also don't want them to keep or give away surplus campaign funds when they leave office. Any campaign surplus at the end of an election cycle should be returned pro-rata to contributors (which probably means, in effect, that any surplus would go out as bonuses to political consultants).

I think it's futile to try to impede people from making money off their experience and contacts, no matter what their field. And lobbyists will always able to ply their trade indirectly, via dealing with congressional staff and by using members of their clients' organizations as proxies.

We're counting on people like you to let us know who the influencers and influenced really are. Keep up the good work!

Jeffrey Birnbaum: Thank you for the kind words. You are a hawk on this issue, I can tell. A little tough for my taste, but I'll keep my eyes open nonetheless.

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Anonymous:

I like the idea that Indianapolis has concerning taking pension money and then dipping in the K-Street market. I would think the pension could be pro-rated depending upon length of service as a congressperson and age at retirement. Two timers (in and out of congress) would get no pension if they worked for a lobbiist on K-Street.

Jeffrey Birnbaum: Now that's thinking ahead--just like a good drafter of legislation. Anticipating what happens beyond the immediate impact. Maybe you have a future as a congressional aide--then lobbyist.

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Via E-mail: An excellent idea in today's column. Yes, let's have former lawmaker's choose between their federal pensions and becoming lobbyists. They may complain about changing the "rules of the game," but many Americans are faced with unexpected pension (and health benefits) changes. This will help our lawmakers feel like one of the people. Of course, they will probably just bequeath the lobbying opportunity to a spouse, child or other relative, but it's a start.

Jeffrey Birnbaum: Thank you. Or rather, the author of the idea, named Indianapolis, thanks you.

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Arlington: Vis-a-vis your chronicaling: How did you start? What is your background? Did you work on the Hill? Just curious.

Jeffrey Birnbaum: Thank you for the kind question.

I have been a professional journalist since my days at the University of Pennsylvania, where I freelanced for the local newspapers and was a stringer in federal court for the Associated Press.

I worked for the Miami Herald briefly and spent most of my career at the Wall Street Journal; three years in New York as a business reporter and 13 years in Washington covering Congress, politics and ultimately the White House.

I then moved to Time for two years as a senior political correspondent and then I moved down the hall to be Fortune magazine's Washington writer for seven years.

Nearly three years ago, I got an offer from the Washington Post I could not refuse--to write my column and write feature stories. I have been very happy here.

On television, I am a Fox News contributor and have been since 1998. I am on a variety of shows there including Special Report with Brit Hume and also, a lot lately, on Fox News Radio as a political commentator. I am also a commentator for Marketplace, the business radio show, and an occasional contributor to WETA's Washington Week.

I have written four books including (with Alan Murray) Showdown at Gucci Gulch. My other three are Madhouse, The Lobbyists and The Money Men.

Enough.

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Washington, D.C.: Regarding the suggestion of eliminating pensions for lawmakers that become lobbyists- it's worth nothing that there are probably some lawmakers that don't go into lobbying for money and could do some low-profile public interest / humanitarian / reform-minded lobbying. In these cases, there would be an actual financial issue that would simply result in all the most effective lawmakers having more incentive to go into lucrative lobbying than more low-profile activities.

Jeffrey Birnbaum: I agree. Do you have some suggestions that I might write about? Please send them to kstreet@washpost.com.

Or here to this chat!

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Via E-mail: "Pacelle notes that his group has no corporate connection to the animal shelters that regularly kill surplus strays."

It is a great distortion to give the impression that the shelters all kill surplus strays but even more important is the abuse of the name "Humane Society" leading to gifts misdirected to his organizations rather than to the older "hands on" shelters who try to help the animals. His organization raised money after Katrina even though it does nothing to help those displaced animals. There may be a need for his organization but there is no need for this deceptive name for it.

Jeffrey Birnbaum: I do hear that the society has been under some criticism for its actions in the wake of Katrina. But that, as they say, is a different story.

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Roseland, N.J.: If you want to jam the revolving door between Congress and the outside world -- and discourage K Street from hiring former congressmen as lobbyists -- then deny a congressional pension to any former lawmaker who registers to lobby. A lawmaker can accept public funds in retirement via his pension, or he can make a living extracting public funds for clients as a lobbyist. But he shouldn't be allowed to do both. Whaddya think..

Bloody brilliant! We are just trying to curb 2nd and 3rd pensions from the state here in NJ and boy wouldn't that raise eyebrows. That said I wouldn't bank on it ever seeing the light of day.

Jeffrey Birnbaum: I wouldn't hold my breath either.

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Jeffrey Birnbaum: Thanks so much for writing in!

Let's do this again in a couple weeks.

Cheers!

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