Editorial: A gift by any other name

Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2007 | 7:18 a.m.

It took members of Congress less than a month to figure out how to circumvent their new ethics rules, which ban lawmakers from accepting lobbyists' offers of meals, trips, event tickets and the discounted use of private jets.

The rules, adopted in January, are designed to curtail the power of lobbyists who had grown accustomed to trying to influence lawmakers' votes through lavish gifts, meals and entertainment. But, according to a story by The New York Times on Sunday, members of Congress have devised a way to continue playing while the lobbyists pick up the tab.

Instead of offering trips or gifts outright, lobbyists now give money to the political fundraising committees of members of Congress. These committees use this money to pay for the outings, covering attendance costs for the lawmaker and calling the event a political fundraiser. According to the Times, these events have included a $1,000-a-head birthday party for one lawmaker and a $5,000-per-person hunting trip with another. For $2,500, lobbyists could attend Bob Seger or The Who concerts with a member of Congress.

Members of Congress and lobbyists say this practice is legal under the new rules, which prohibit gifts from lobbyists but not political contributions.

Legality isn't the point, however.

This practice blatantly violates the spirit of the new ethics rules, which already apply in the House and are to take effect in the Senate this spring. These rules are supposed to prevent lawmakers from accepting gifts that could later influence their votes. Lobbyists spent $2.4 billion on lawmakers in 2005 - the year in which Justice Department officials began investigating former lobbyist Jack Abramoff. He later was convicted of fraud and conspiring to corrupt public officials.

Lobbyists say these excursions provide the kind of personal contact with lawmakers that their jobs demand. Lawmakers engaged in this practice say the outings are much-needed fundraisers and don't influence their decisions. Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Calif., told the Times that "only a moron would sell a vote for a $2,000 contribution." And only someone who is clueless could fail to see that a lobbyist-funded trip to Disney World is just wrong - no matter who is handling the checkbook.