Wanna know why the Republicans say "Democrats Don't Have an Agenda"? Wanna know why Republicans are scared out of their wits of Nancy Pelosi as Speaker?
Maybe it has something to do with this:
Odds are that lobbying in the House of Representatives is about to get harder.
If Pelosi becomes Speaker, it looks as though she is going to implement some of the very reforms that the Republicans refused to take up this past session:
In a little-publicized statement, Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), the House Democratic leader, has promised to change the chamber's rules to reflect the provisions of her not-so-modestly-named Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2006. The months-old measure would, among other things, prohibit House members from accepting gifts and travel from lobbyists or from organizations that employ lobbyists.
'Bout time. And guess what? It appears to be item numero uno on Pelosi's agenda:
That would be a major development for K Street. If the House rules were altered in ways that even came close to Pelosi's preferences, lobbying of House members would be changed significantly and immediately. The new rules would apply as soon as they were approved by a simple majority.
Pelosi road tested her bill last time out. It only failed by THREE VOTES. My guess is with a new crew, should we take the House, they'll get more than enough to pass the reforms on the House side.
While the reforms appear to be common sense to us, they must scare the bejeesus out of the K Street crowd:
The biggest change proposed by Pelosi would be the ban on gifts and travel. Pelosi would prohibit House members and their staff from using corporate jets for travel taken as part of their official duties. She would also prevent them from taking anything of value from lobbyists, including meals, tickets and entertainment.
The ban would apply not just to lobbyists' gifts but also to gifts from nongovernmental groups that hire lobbyists. House members and their aides would also be barred from accepting transportation or lodging for any trips that are funded, arranged, requested, planned or even attended by lobbyists...
In an attempt to slow the revolving door between the public and private sectors, Pelosi would deprive lawmakers-turned-lobbyists of a few of their congressional perks. She would eliminate the House rule that gives access to the House gym, the House floor and its cloak rooms to former members of Congress who are registered to lobby -- access that was temporarily taken away earlier this year.
Pelosi even goes so far that she will require Members and aides to disclose when they are negotiations for jobs in the private sector to the Ethics Committee. (Personally, as a former Hill aide, I'm not thrilled with that one...there are many Hill aides that are sometimes looking to get out from under the thumb of bad bosses. Disclosure of job hunting might lead to retribution from those bosses, but...if we have to do it, we have to do it.)
Pelosi would also force lawmakers to disclose the sponsors of earmarks before they become law. It would establish an Office of Public Integrity, and tough the rules to make sure there are not budget-busting bills passed for the sake of corporate lobbyists.
The biggie, though, is aimed right at the heart of the Republican K Street machine:
Pelosi would even stop the Democrats from doing what Republicans did to help solidify their majority -- at least when it comes to dealing with lobbyists. Republican leaders pressured major lobbying offices and trade associations in town to hire former Republican staffers and lawmakers in senior positions. That effort, known as the K Street Project, was designed to increase the flow of campaign contributions to Republican candidates and causes.
Pelosi would specifically prohibit House members from using their official actions to influence any employment decisions "on the basis of partisan political affiliation."
Wow. Color me impressed. And to think that people are saying Democrats didn't have an agenda, and it will just be business as usual up on the Hill.
Looks like change is in the air, not business as usual.
And that's why the stakes are so high. Let's take back the House.