08-31-2008, 09:15 AM
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| Gone Fishin | | Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Lost On A Lake
Posts: 6,017
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 Lawmakers say rules are a ‘pain in the a$$’
Quote:
DENVER — It’s taken just three convention days for Democratic lawmakers to get buyer’s remorse over sweeping new ethics rules they passed last year.
Members of Congress attending the Democratic National Convention are expressing frustration with the thicket of restrictions that they say have caused confusion and pointless irritation.
It’s a pain in the *****!” said Rep. Jim Moran (Va.), one of 221 Democrats who voted for the final version of the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007.
Lawmakers have paid as much as $90 from their own pocket to attend parties that many guests attend for free and that members of Congress used to enjoy gratis at past conventions.
“I think the whole thing is ridiculous,” said Rep. Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.), who was asked to pay $90 to attend a party thrown by the Recording Industry Association of America that featured a performance by rap superstar Kanye West.
“The whole premise is ridiculous that I can’t go to a convention party for free but a lobbyist can give me a $10,000 PAC check and give you a $4,600 personal contribution.”
Engel, who also voted for ethics reform, thinks the result is a “hodgepodge of inconsistency” that has created “artificial restrictions which are arbitrary.”
One Democratic lawmaker who has endured a tough campaign this year decided to skip the Kanye West concert when he was told of the $90 charge.
“I decided not to bother,” said the lawmaker, who asked not to be identified by name.
The recording industry party was far from the only bash that required lawmakers to open their pockets to attend.
Members of the House Blue Dog Coalition had to pay $22 to get into a party in their honor sponsored by AT&T on Sunday night that featured pop star KT Tunstall, said a Democrat familiar with the arrangements. A Willie Nelson concert sponsored by the energy company CH2M Hill set lawmakers back $50.
Lawmakers and staff can go to parties with no-name bands for free.
Some lawmakers have had to stand around awkwardly at receptions, forbidden to eat or drink anything, while other guests enjoyed buckshee booze and hors d’oeuvres.
Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Wash.) said he couldn’t eat or drink at a Washington state delegation event because “the invitation was worded wrong.”
Members of Congress used to not have to worry about finding lunch or dinner at conventions. Now they’re on their own — a source of frustration to many of them.
“I bought my own fried chicken and french fries instead of gong to a catered event,” said Rep. Rush Holt (D-N.J.).
The law Congress passed was not complicated. It said a member of Congress could not participate in an event honoring that member if it was paid for by a lobbyist or organization that employs lobbyists. The law also barred members from accepting gifts from lobbyists or groups employing lobbyists.
| http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/...008-08-27.html   |