Editorial: Lobbyists’ money talks

Friday, July 7, 2006 | 7:23 a.m.

Those trying to influence federal lawmakers' decisions increased the amount spent on lobbying to $2.4 billion last year, even as Congress debated ways to curb politicians' acceptance of lobbyists' favors and gifts.

According to Bloomberg News, that $2.4 billion represents a 14 percent increase over the amount of money spent on lobbying in 2004 and is a whopping 50 percent more than lobbyists spent in 2000. Federal discretionary spending last year rose to $967.9 billion - a 57 percent increase over the amount spent in 2000. And, as one lobbyist told Bloomberg News, "as long as there's more money, there's going to be a need for people in Washington to be hired to get it."

Lobbyists aren't backing down any time soon. So it is up to Congress to rein in its members or there are sure to be more scandals such as the Justice Department's 2005 investigation of Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff. In January, Abramoff pleaded guilty to fraud and conspiring to corrupt public officials.

Abramoff's arrest sent shock waves across Capitol Hill as Congress members scurried to clear their names back home and began considering legislation to increase disclosure and limit the type of activities that are allowed.

Both the House and Senate have passed measures that would require increased reporting of lobbyists' spending. But both proposals stop short of banning many lobbyist-funded perks, including some privately funded travel. The Senate's version bans accepting meals that are paid for by lobbyists.

In the wake of a Justice Department investigation and lobbyist spending that bloats into the billions, Congress still doesn't get it. Americans have seen what they get for $2.4 billion. What they don't know is how much it costs to pass some decent ethics rules.