Friday, August 03, 2007

Bush & Lobby/Ethics Reform -- See:Yellowcake File

Some people regard the lobbying and ethics bill passed by Congress yesterday as the most significant congressional reform measure adopted in years. Bloomberg reported yesterday that "The U.S. Senate passed legislation that lawmakers said will provide the most sweeping changes in ethics rules in a generation."

At a time when Americans hold Washington in the lowest collective regard in decades -- with Bush and Congress running neck-and-neck for least popular of all time -- and nine months after voters, perceiving a "culture of corruption," evicted the GOP congressional majority, passage of this legislation may be coming not a moment too soon.

The votes weren't even close -- the House adopted the bill 411-8; the Senate approved it 83-14.

Now, get this, from AP: President Bush has "serious concerns" about the bill and has not decided whether to veto it, said White House spokeswoman Emily Lawrimore. I suppose the idea of being overriden by both parties in Congress is not among his "serious concerns."

Just to be on the safe side, however, the congressional leadership, which would be excused for disbelieving its ears, will hold off on sending the bill to the White House until September, so that Bush cannot pocket veto it during Congress' August recess.

Does anyone remember a certain State of the Union speech about seven months ago in which a certain president demanded that a certain Congress send him certain earmark reform legislation? Check the Yellowcake File.