Congress is scheduled to take up some reform proposals in the next couple of weeks. So far, it doesn't look like they are prepared to do anything more than window dressing. This
NY Times editorial had it right in the last line:
All of these steps would be a credible start. But Congress must also attend to its most glaring shortcoming — the absence of an independent, nonpartisan enforcement arm to police the intersecting behavior of lawmaker and lobbyist.
The editorial lists some key reforms: ban on travel, 2-year revolving door cooling off period, and full electronic disclosure (also lists an end to convention parties -- this should happen, but I don't see it as much of a priority - the conventions are no longer anything more than a party anyway).
Instead of serious reforms, we're seeing a focus on earmarks (yes, they should be limited, but again, not my priority) and cracking down on Native Americans, even though the vast majority of tribes have no casinoes and live in poverty.
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