Editorial: Believe it when you see it

Friday, Jan. 20, 2006 | 8:02 a.m.

Years of very little oversight of congressional behavior culminated in the current scandals centered around former lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Hoping to persuade the public that they are now serious about ethics, Republicans and Democrats in Congress this week released what appear to be strong proposals.

The Washington Post, however, pointed out that while their proposals change congressional rules and disclosure laws, they do not include changes to campaign finance laws. The paper reported that members of Congress would still be able to legally receive gifts and free travel and free meals, as long as a campaign contribution was involved.

If a sincere effort to stop influence peddling is at the core of the proposals, then loopholes afforded by the campaign finance laws must be closed. Leaders of both parties should add such reform to their proposals. Otherwise, their efforts will amount to little more than political bluster.

On the surface, though, each of the proposals advocate common-sense rules to eliminate the "pay-to-play" culture that has overtaken Congress.

For example, Democrats are calling for an end to all gift-giving from lobbyists. Republicans want gifts limited to $20. We support a total ban. The limit on gifts is now a product or service valued at no more than $49.99, but we have seen that exceeded by Gargantuan amounts. A rule prohibiting all gifts would help close the door on clever schemes to circumvent the plain-language limit.

Reacting to his party's proposal on gifts, Republican Sen. Trent Lott of Mississippi said, "Now we're going to say you can't have a meal for more than 20 bucks. Where are you going, to McDonald's?"

We are appalled at this sense of entitlement that has overtaken Congress. Our answer to Lott's question is that members of Congress should go to their offices when meeting with lobbyists. They can hear a lobbyist's point of view there just as well as they can in a gourmet restaurant.

We are encouraged by the proposals but are holding off on a sense of optimism until we see the final bill. It if does not contain reforms of campaign finance laws, or establish a permanent body to enforce the new and strengthened ethics rules, then there will be no reason to suspect that Congress is sincere about change.