House Leaders Back Ethics Rules

[brooklynite]

WASHINGTON - Lobbyists would be required to disclose the gifts they give lawmakers and members of the House would be temporarily barred from taking privately funded trips under legislation endorsed Tuesday night by GOP House leaders, according to Republican officials.

Responding to a Republican-tinted corruption scandal that erupted earlier this year, GOP leaders also agreed to support a requirement for lawmakers to disclose when they place money in a spending bill for pet projects, these officials said.

In addition, Republicans intend to seek limits on outside political organizations that currently are permitted to accept unlimited donations from individuals. Republicans say that Democrats benefit disproportionately from these groups, and Republicans envision imposing a cap of slightly more than $27,000 on individual donations along with a requirement that donors be disclosed by name.

The officials who described the details of the emerging package said they remain subject to change. They spoke on condition of anonymity, saying the leaders are to brief the Republican rank and file on Wednesday.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060315/ap_on_go_co/congress_ethics
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Ethics? What a good idea! And it only took 12 years of Republican "Leadership" to come up with it.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

1. Republican-tinted?

Baby, it's Flashing-Republican-Neon!

[mom cat]

2. Republicans using "ethics bill" to limit campaign funds from groups

such as MoveOn. These evil Orwellian truth twisters! :grr:

[ShockediSay]

3. band-aid on a severed artery

if they want to limit contributions, limit the contributions each lobbying firm makes

[SemperEadem]

4. Oh, they oppose it

because they can't figure out how to make it work for them? Figures.

[Judi Lynn]

5. House GOP Leaders Propose Ethics Rules

March 15, 2006, 2:11AM
House GOP Leaders Propose Ethics Rules


By DAVID ESPO AP Special Correspondent
© 2006 The Associated Press

WASHINGTON — Stung by scandal, House Republican leaders want at least a temporary ban on privately funded travel for lawmakers, along with a requirement for lobbyists to disclose the food, drink and other gifts they bestow on House members.

Lawmakers also would be required for the first time to disclose when they direct federal funds to be spent on pet projects, officials said Tuesday night, the first attempt in years to rein in a practice known as earmarking.

The changes are among several the GOP leadership embraced Tuesday night, according to officials who spoke on condition of anonymity, as they worked to counter Democratic charges of a "culture of corruption."

Speaker Dennis Hastert's office issued a statement announcing he would speak publicly on the lobbyist legislation after the rank and file had a chance to review it at a Wednesday morning meeting.
(snip/...)

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/politics/3724543.html

[Mythsaje]

6. Public funding of elections...

Anything else is a bandaid over a festering wound.

[radfringe]

7. whatever the repugs come up with

it's going to be all window dressing, and plenty of "loop holes"