Lobbyists are shaking their heads over an apparent ploy by the homebuilders' lobby to freeze its political action committee (PAC) contributions to lawmakers until they come to the aid of the troubled housing sector.

The move, which the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) announced last week, has prompted dismay on K Street, in part because it buttressed the popular image of lobbyists tying contributions to votes.

"A lot of lawmakers are going to get uncomfortable at this point dealing with Build-PAC," said Craig Holman, the campaign finance lobbyist for ethics watchdog Public Citizen.

Some lobbyists, perhaps concerned about the strong whiff of quid pro quo with which the NAHB's action seemed to taint all of K Street, downplayed the effectiveness of the move.