Dem Lobbying Reform Bill: So "Hollow" it May be Delayed?

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Democrats pledged to lead the “most honest, most open and most ethical Congress in history.” To date, however, legislative deliberations in the House have been anything but open, their vote yesterday to ignore a blatant ethics violation was anything but honest, and their lobbying reform package has turned out to be such a “hollow promise” that its consideration may have to be postponed until June. A sampling of today’s headlines calling Democrats to task for yet another broken promise follows:

Roll Call: Lobby Bill Vote May Face Delay

“Facing significant internal strife, House Democratic leaders are mulling whether to postpone a Thursday vote on overhauling lobbying laws, despite promises of action by Memorial Day…Deep and wide resistance to the reform package from within the Democratic Caucus threatens to sink the rule governing debate on the measure.”

New York Times: The Hollow Promise Reform Act

“The House’s new Democratic majority is flirting with disaster as it guts key provisions of the strict lobbying reform it promised voters last November. Rebellious lawmakers, worried about their own career path, fought their leaders to defeat tighter restrictions on the sleazy, revolving-door culture by which members of Congress move on from an apprenticeship of merely serving the people to real Washington money as insider lobbyists.”

Washington Post: Democratic Leaders Find House Ethics Bill a Tough Sell

“After scrapping most key elements of an ethics package meant to deliver on Democratic promises to bring unprecedented accountability to Congress, party leaders were still working into the night yesterday to sell their stripped-down bill to the rank and file.”

The Hill: Reform groups disappointed with Dems’ ethics legislation

“It’s starting to look like the House isn’t really serious about lobbying reform.”

New York Times: Democrats Find Ethics Overhaul Elusive in House

“The Democratic leaders were forced to scrap a promise to double the current one-year lobbying ban after lawmakers leave office. Now, they are struggling to pass legislation requiring lobbyists to disclose the campaign contributions they “bundle” — collect and deliver — to lawmakers. Failing to deliver on both measures would endanger similar provisions already passed by the Senate”

The Politico: Debate could hinder lobbying reform

“Key allies of Pelosi fear that some Democrats will help kill the measure by voting against the rule that will set the parameters for the floor debate.”