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Comments from an AP history
and government teacher in Raleigh, NC.
e-mail betsynewmark AT gmail.com
Commissions earned from selling items through Amazon will go towards buying materials for my classes. Thank you.
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Wednesday, January 04, 2006
Personally, I am grateful that the Abramoff story is starting to break now, because this is the week that my AP GOvernment classes are studying interest groups - not always the most scintillating of topics for 10th graders. At least now, they'll see the relevance of the theory and history in their text book with current events.
I guess that, like other scandals such as Enron, this new scandal will bring lots of calls to reform lobbying rules. Of course, they've tried to do this before, most notably in 1946 and then again in 1995, but such laws have been as ineffective in regulating lobbyists as campaign finance laws have been in regulating political contributions. There are already a ton of laws and regulations governing lobbyists. That is why Abramoff was investigated - because he broke laws.The tax code is full of regulations on interest groups.
But this is what politicians will do to show that they're pure - they'll support passing some sort of regulations so that they can appear that they're on the right side of the scandal.Regardless of the electoral implications, the Abramoff scandal may force changes on Capitol Hill in the form of tough new lobbying disclosure laws that even some lobbying advocates say it is time to consider. "There will be a push for increased oversight and disclosure of lobbying," said Douglas G. Pinkham, president of the Public Affairs Council, a lobbyist education group. "There needs to be greater transparency and better enforcement."I'm all for disclosure and enforcement of laws that exist. Especially, if they tone down on the practices that have little to do with informing lawmakers about issues. Maybe lawmakers can start paying for their own Redskins tickets.John Jonas, a lobbyist at Patton Boggs, said he expects "less partying, less gifting, more awareness about compliance" with rules that have been "observed in the breach."And expect to hear a lot more from John McCain who will be out front on this. And Newt Gingrich is hoping to ride this issue back into the spotlight.
As for the perception of lobbying as a profession, "it's confirmed everybody's worst fears about lobbyists -- that they double-deal, that they're not aboveboard," Jonas said. "That hurts the legitimate practice of the profession."Gingrich said Republican leaders in Congress should take the initiative to reform lobbying and campaign finance, rather than hoping to slip quietly past the current scandal. "Things have to be done to really rethink where the center of the political process is," he said. "Right now, the center is a lobbying and PAC [political action committee] system center, which is not healthy."Gee, more McCain and Gingrich. And media pontificating and pointing fingers. Not a pleasant prospect.
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Personally, I am grateful that the Abramoff story is starting to break now, because this is the week that my AP GOvernment classes are studying interest groups - not always the most scintillating of topics for 10th graders. At least now, they'll see the relevance of the theory and history in their text book with current events.
I guess that, like other scandals such as Enron, this new scandal will bring lots of calls to reform lobbying rules. Of course, they've tried to do this before, most notably in 1946 and then again in 1995, but such laws have been as ineffective in regulating lobbyists as campaign finance laws have been in regulating political contributions. There are already a ton of laws and regulations governing lobbyists. That is why Abramoff was investigated - because he broke laws.The tax code is full of regulations on interest groups.
But this is what politicians will do to show that they're pure - they'll support passing some sort of regulations so that they can appear that they're on the right side of the scandal.
0 comments
Personally, I am grateful that the Abramoff story is starting to break now, because this is the week that my AP GOvernment classes are studying interest groups - not always the most scintillating of topics for 10th graders. At least now, they'll see the relevance of the theory and history in their text book with current events.
I guess that, like other scandals such as Enron, this new scandal will bring lots of calls to reform lobbying rules. Of course, they've tried to do this before, most notably in 1946 and then again in 1995, but such laws have been as ineffective in regulating lobbyists as campaign finance laws have been in regulating political contributions. There are already a ton of laws and regulations governing lobbyists. That is why Abramoff was investigated - because he broke laws.The tax code is full of regulations on interest groups.
But this is what politicians will do to show that they're pure - they'll support passing some sort of regulations so that they can appear that they're on the right side of the scandal.
Regardless of the electoral implications, the Abramoff scandal may force changes on Capitol Hill in the form of tough new lobbying disclosure laws that even some lobbying advocates say it is time to consider. "There will be a push for increased oversight and disclosure of lobbying," said Douglas G. Pinkham, president of the Public Affairs Council, a lobbyist education group. "There needs to be greater transparency and better enforcement."I'm all for disclosure and enforcement of laws that exist. Especially, if they tone down on the practices that have little to do with informing lawmakers about issues. Maybe lawmakers can start paying for their own Redskins tickets.
John Jonas, a lobbyist at Patton Boggs, said he expects "less partying, less gifting, more awareness about compliance" with rules that have been "observed in the breach."And expect to hear a lot more from John McCain who will be out front on this. And Newt Gingrich is hoping to ride this issue back into the spotlight.
As for the perception of lobbying as a profession, "it's confirmed everybody's worst fears about lobbyists -- that they double-deal, that they're not aboveboard," Jonas said. "That hurts the legitimate practice of the profession."
Gingrich said Republican leaders in Congress should take the initiative to reform lobbying and campaign finance, rather than hoping to slip quietly past the current scandal. "Things have to be done to really rethink where the center of the political process is," he said. "Right now, the center is a lobbying and PAC [political action committee] system center, which is not healthy."Gee, more McCain and Gingrich. And media pontificating and pointing fingers. Not a pleasant prospect.
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