Tuesday, June 26, 2007

Fate of Lobbying and Ethics Bill Uncertain

CQ ($$) reports that Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, (R-KY) has blocked the appointment of Senate conferees on the lobbying and ethics bill. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) tried to name conferees Tuesday afternoon, but Republicans objected at McConnell's request, saying they would only allow action if promised a vote on a bill to require electronic filing of campaign finance reports (S. 223).

As the Senate stalls on the legislation, House and Senate staffers are working behind the scenes to work through several major sticking points before each chamber names its conferees. One major obstacle in the lobbying bill appears to be "revolving door" rules aimed at preventing members of Congress and senior staff from immediately cashing in on K Street with high-paying lobbying jobs after they leave Capitol Hill.