Two Post editorials today on campaign finance and election issues.
The first criticizes the recent attention to lobbyists within the Obama and McCain campaigns, and includes a strong argument for public financing. My take: the Post is mostly right. They're wrong to dismiss the lobbyist question entirely--it IS a powerful illustration of how power players and powerful influences move within Washington and through federal campaigns--but they're right that it's not a long-term prescription for change.
This is, as we suspect both candidates know, a silly exercise. Lobbyists are a symptom of a larger problem that can't be fixed by turning them into political pariahs. The real problem is the distorting influence on public policy of moneyed interests; lobbyists are merely a particularly efficient delivery vehicle for the money that candidates need to satisfy their fundraising habits. The most effective cure would be to free lawmakers of this addiction by providing for public financing of campaigns, a solution that is, admittedly, a long way off.
The second piece takes a look at the FEC -- or
lack thereof -- and highlights one of the most egregiously partisan nomination maneuvers in an agency that is defined by partisan maneuvers.
If everything goes as planned, it looks like we can finally get some movement on ethics...and not a moment too soon!
Last November, voters overwhelmingly voted to send legislators a message: ethics are important. Don't believe me? Take a look at the exit polls. 74% of voters said that ethics was either "very important" or "extremely important." Since voters made that statement, we've had scandals involving Rep. Rick Renzi (R-AZ), Rep. John Doolittle (R-CA), Mark Zachares, Rep. Tom Feeney (R-FL)...and scandals involving the Justice Department, specifically the ousted attorneys who were investigating people like Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-CA). There are also the Bush Administration officials that either are under investigation or who resigned in disgrace. And finally, there is the lobbyist at the center of it all, Jack Abramoff!
I don't know about you, but this is all getting a little hard for me to keep track of. I'm beginning to wonder if there is anyone left in Washington who doesn't have a Common Blog smart tag with their name on it! It's time for Congress to finally get serious on ethics reform. Lobbying reform would be a great way to start...
Prosecutors: The People.
Defendents: Congress.
Exhibit 1: Letitia White, former receptionist who rose through the ranks of Rep. Jerry Lewis' (R-CA) office to become his top defense aide. Ms. White left Lewis' office in 2003 and now works as a lobbyist, earning upwards of $3.5 million in two years.
Exhibit 2: Earmarks. Lobbyists direct their clients to donate to certain lawmakers. Those lawmakers then, coincidentally, earmark funds for projects beneficial to those clients.
Argument for the Prosecution: An editorial from USA Today. The editorial makes the case that White's access to her former boss Lewis, who now chairs the House Appropriations Committee (nicknamed by Jack Abramoff the "favor factory"), is just one example of the revolving door interplay between Congressional offices and the lobbying industry.
A spokesman for White says there is no reason to single her out from among the many Appropriations Committee staffers who become lobbyists, lobby their former committee and find financial rewards.
That is precisely the problem.
Common Blog
