To save face after the demise of former lobbyist Jack Abramoff, the Senate has passed a lobbying reform bill that claims to curb acceptance of unauthorized gifts and limit earmarking. Yet, like most legislation passed solely as a reactionary disguise of the apparent corruption in Washington, the bill ultimately is riddled with loopholes.
The embarrassment of Abramoff and all those tied to his swindling political maneuvers only has deepened the public's mistrust of lawmakers. This legislation seems to look to diminish this sentiment without evoking any real change.
Outlined in the bill is the banning of questionable exchanges of gifts, meals and hasty job offers among lobbyists and lawmakers. However, the formation of an independent Office of Public Integrity to monitor the implementation of this measure was shot down on the Senate floor. In essence, without the willingness to put a proper watchdog in place, there is no muscle to crack down on improper lobbyist-lawmaker connections. A slap on the wrist and a scolding will not accomplish the goals of this legislation, especially when other guilty parties such as self-interested corporate employees and other non-lobbyists have yet to be admonished for the same crimes.
It would be foolish to allow empty legislation such as this to shadow past mistakes of corruption. It also is difficult to describe any open exchange of free gifts as anything short of bribery. In no way does this behavior follow the democratic system, and it has proven time and time again to perpetuate the forwarding of earmarked legislation based on such encounters. Without the proper backing of such legislation ' and without the full acceptance and conviction to remove the problem ' the public, regrettably, will continue to remain justifiably skeptical of its elected officials.
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Ethics bill simply goes through motions
