Getting Around Rules on Lobbying

Source: Washington Post

Despite New Law, Firms Find Ways To Ply Politicians

In recent days, about 100 members of Congress and hundreds of Hill staffers attended two black-tie galas, many of them as guests of corporations and lobbyists that paid as much as $2,500 per ticket.

Because accepting such gifts from special interests is now illegal, the companies did not hand the tickets directly to lawmakers or staffers. Instead, the companies donated the tickets back to the charity sponsors, with the names of recipients they wanted to see and sit with at the galas.


The arrangement was one of the most visible efforts, but hardly the only one, to get around new rules passed by Congress this summer limiting meals, travel, gifts and campaign contributions from lobbyists and companies that employ them.

Last week, Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) and Republican leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) found bipartisan agreement on maintaining one special privilege. Together they put language into a defense appropriations bill that would keep legal the practice of some senators of booking several flights on days they return home, keeping the most convenient reservation and dumping the rest without paying cancellation fees -- a practice some airlines say could violate the new law.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/13/AR2007101301275.html?nav=rss_print/asection

... when you try and block their access to foodstuffs. They find another way around.

Now, everything will be different, government will be "honest".

Curious how those laws never make any difference. Bidness as usual.

That seems to be what Barbara Boxer is referring to (in this article).

Basically, it's clear what's right and wrong but no one really cares. If there's a loophole to be exploited those wanting favors and those wanting goodies are working overtime to find them and exploit them.

Like you said, it's 'bidness as usual.

I received a survey recently from Harry Reid.
Asking questions about what issues are important to me
and how I thought Congress was doing.
Believe me I told them they where no different than
the current administration. They had done nothing
constructive since they where voted in. Duds.

AIPAC is Bad