GOP attack Delay/Abramoff Scandal by being party of change- New Ethics law

[papau]

WSJ says 60 lawmakers could be implicated in Delay/Abramoff scandal

So the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics states that 296 members of Congress since 1999 have received contributions from Abramoff, his Indian tribe clients or SunCruz Casinos. Abramoff and his wife contributed $204,253 — all of it to Republicans - How many GOPers should sweat?- Wall Street Journal: ". . .could implicate 60 lawmakers"
New York Times: "a dozen lawmakers"
Washington Post: ". . .about half a dozen House and Senate members"
USA Today: ". . .at least 12 lawmakers"
New York Post: ". . . as many as 20 Congress members and staffers"

And now Senate Republicans will soon introduce ethics reform legislation to combat this "black eye" on the party.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-assess4jan04,0,3655468.story?coll=la-home-headlines

Lobbying Plan Was Central to GOP's Political Strategy

Abramoff was key to the 'K Street Project,' designed to extend the party's influence. Changes are urged to avoid 'huge black eye.'

By Janet Hook and Mary Curtius, Times Staff Writers

WASHINGTON — The corruption investigation surrounding lobbyist Jack Abramoff shows the significant political risk that Republican leaders took when they adopted what had once seemed a brilliant strategy for dominating Washington: turning the K Street lobbying corridor into a cog of the GOP political machine.<snip>
GOP leaders, seeking to harness the financial and political support of K Street, urged lobbyists to support their conservative agenda, give heavily to Republican politicians and hire Republicans for top trade association jobs. Abramoff obliged on every front, and his tentacles of influence reached deep into the upper echelons of Congress and the Bush administration.<snip>
One Senate Republican aide, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Republicans soon will unveil ethics reform legislation in an effort to blunt criticism from Democrats that they have fostered a "culture of corruption" in Washington.<snip>
Abramoff did not just ply lawmakers with meals; he opened a restaurant and plied them with his meals. He did not simply hand out tickets to sporting events; he offered access to several luxury skyboxes. He did not arrange garden-variety golf outings; he brought golfers to the world's most exclusive courses.<snip>

[papau]

1. Former lobbyist pleads guilty (USA guess "at least 12 lawmakers" sweat

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2006-01-03-Abramoff_x.htm
Former lobbyist pleads guilty
By Jim Drinkard and Kevin Johnson, USA TODAY

WASHINGTON — Former superlobbyist Jack Abramoff pleaded guilty Tuesday to three felony counts of fraud, conspiracy and tax evasion, agreeing to help prosecutors in a wide-ranging probe of corruption in Congress.

<snip>A charging document accompanying the plea deal described an arrangement between Abramoff and a House member previously identified as Rep. Bob Ney, R-Ohio, by the lawmaker's attorney. The House member did favors for Abramoff clients in return for "a stream of things of value," including travel, meals and entertainment, the document says.

In a statement, Ney denied he had been influenced by Abramoff. "At the time I dealt with Jack Abramoff, I obviously did not know, and had no way of knowing, the self-serving and fraudulent nature" of his activities, the statement said.

The probe goes beyond Ney's office. At least 12 lawmakers, their aides or other officials are the focus of the probe, say two federal officials briefed on the matter but who aren't authorized to speak publicly about ongoing investigations. It's unclear how many congressional offices are involved.
<snip>

[mzmolly]

2. Democrats may actually out fund raise Repuks if things are done on the up

and up.

[loyalsister]

3. At the end of the day

this will be about campain finance reform. There is an opportunity here. I think that it is time to take the initiative.
It may turn out to be a nonpartisan issue, because all kinds of loop holes could very well be investigated and unfortunately few would be innocent.

[zbdent]

4. So, the ruling party, the one that's been in charge for the past n years,

is now the "party of change"?

:eyes:

[papau]

5. If the Dems can't get a "REFORM" position on the table - yep -vote GOP

for change.