Plan to limit lobbying gets local support

Newport-Mesa’s congressmen back most of proposed reform but balk at travel strictures.Newport-Mesa’s congressmen said Wednesday they’ll back lobbying reforms proposed this week by their GOP colleagues, Rep. David Dreier of San Dimas, and House Speaker Dennis Hastert.

If the reforms are approved, it could mean the end of federal pork -- at least some of it.

A reform package could include banning privately funded travel by members of Congress, banning gifts from lobbyists, barring special access Congress-members-turned-lobbyists get to the House floor and gym, and -- what some consider the most significant reform -- ending the practice of earmarks, by which members of Congress slip funding for pet projects into bills.

Costa Mesa Rep. Dana Rohrabacher and Newport Beach Rep. John Campbell applauded the overall reform effort, especially the ban on earmarks.

Campbell said most of the proposed reforms are “window dressing,” but he still believes they are on the right track.

“I think the more significant reform is the earmark reform,” he said. “The reason that [indicted lobbyist] Jack Abramoff and others are going to jail is not because someone went to dinner, but because someone got a major government contract through a mechanism that isn’t well vetted with the public.”

But both representatives were wary of the travel-funding ban, complaining that without private funding they’d have to rely on campaign money or taxpayer dollars to take trips that help them do their jobs.

Rohrabacher has traveled extensively, particularly to Afghanistan, to discuss congressional issues and to press U.S. policies. He argued that he never would have been able to make many of those trips without support from private foundations.

“I think if they want to eliminate all travel, I think that’s ridiculous and that’s grandstanding, but if they want to try to put some more controls on it, that’s OK,” Rohrabacher said.

Newport-Mesa’s House members expected the lobbying reform proposals to clean things up inside the Beltway, but they also predicted people will find loopholes in whatever is approved.

UC Irvine political scientist Louis DeSipio couldn’t agree more -- about the loopholes, that is. He attributed most of the current reform effort to recent scandals such as the bribery conviction of San Diego Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham and Abramoff’s influence peddling.

“These lobbying reform cycles are pretty strong in periods when there’s been a scandal,” DeSipio said.

“My suspicion, however, is that over time Congress will find a way around most of them as they have in the past.”

QUESTION

Are there are reforms to lobbying practices that Newport-Mesa’s representatives should be pursuing? Call our Readers Hotline at (714) 966-4664 or send e-mail to [email protected]. Please spell your name and tell us your hometown and phone numbers for verification purposes only.