Editorial: Caucuses fly under the radar

Saturday, July 22, 2006 | 7:48 a.m.

Amid the fallout of congressional corruption scandals in the last year, many lawmakers touted themselves as ethics and lobby reformers. They called for changes aimed at distancing Congress from special interests, but legislation is still pending. Meanwhile lawmakers continue to enjoy the company of lobbyists, often through unregulated lawmaker "caucuses," the Associated Press reported in a special investigation.

Most members of Congress belong to so-called "caucuses" - informal groups of lawmakers who share an interest and use their numbers to pressure colleagues.

The clubs range from the better-known Congressional Black Caucus to the Shellfish Caucus, and include the House Gaming Caucus (to which all three of Nevada's members of the House belong). An AP survey found more than 500 caucuses, which span the alphabet from the Appalachian Caucus to the Zero Capital Tax Gains Caucus. It all seems innocent enough.

But the caucuses sometimes obscure what should be transparent relationships between lawmakers and lobbyists.

Congressional rules permit the caucuses to affiliate with foundations that collect unlimited pots of money from special interests to pay for social events, but the rules do not require the disclosure of event donations or costs, AP reported. There is virtually no caucus oversight by congressional ethics panels, the Federal Elections Commission or the public.

So if lobbyists are looking to quietly cuddle up to lawmakers, they raise buckets of cash for a lavish caucus event - and keep the media out. Special interest groups hold events for lawmaker caucuses at exclusive golf courses, upscale gun clubs and the Virgin Islands.

"If it's the Caribbean caucus, you have to go to the Caribbean," said Rep. Donald Payne, a New Jersey Democrat who is co-chairman of the Caribbean caucus .

There are other advantages for lawmakers who join caucuses, which sometimes widen their circle of fundraising connections and put lawmakers in touch with celebrities. Lawmakers had their photos taken with former NASCAR star Richard Petty, who made a lap around Capitol Hill lobbying for the Specialty Equipment Market Association, which represents race car parts makers, according to AP.

The group hosts an event each year for lawmakers in the Automotive Performance and Motorsports Caucus. And members of the Arts Caucus and Entertainment Caucus rubbed elbows with celebrities at an event that included actor Sean Astin of "Lord of the Rings" and George Wendt, who played Norm on TV's "Cheers."

Some lawmakers have not learned two important lessons in the wake of high-profile scandals: Don't get cozy with special interests, and be accountable if you do.

Lawmakers should aim to be as transparent as possible in their relationships with anyone who lobbies them. Congress should write clear ethics rules that govern caucuses and require the groups to disclose finances and event information.