Winning Back Trust: Congress Struggles with Ethics in Lobbying

Where do our federal tax dollars go? We hear about money going to Iraq, we see the construction on the interstate; we know some of it goes to social programs like welfare and food stamps. But what about the community center in Duluth, Minnesota? Why is that a federal project?

Ethics

Congress is battling over ethics in lobbying, and the argument is centering on special projects that legislators slip into funding appropriations bills, a process called earmarking.

Some Senators, like John McCain (R-Arizona) and Tom Coburn (R-Oklahoma) believe that earmarks corrupt the lawmaking process. They’ve vowed to challenge every single earmark that appears in appropriations bills in 2006.

What’s earmarking and what does it have to do with lobbying?

Lobbyists will encourage lawmakers to adopt their cause, but instead of introducing it as a separate bill or amendment which can be openly debated, legislators often reserve the money needed through a line item in a large funding bill.

McCain and Coburn say that the problem is that it’s not public - the American people are usually not privy to the projects that lawmakers fund via earmarks.

McCain and Coburn plan to call for a vote on every individual earmark, a process that will take a lot of time, but the Senators say it’s worth it. In a letter to Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R- Tennessee), McCain and Coburn write, "Even though votes on earmarks will undoubtedly be quite time-consuming, we sincerely believe that American taxpayers are entitled to a more thorough debate and disclosure about how their money is being spent."

Arguments over earmarking

The House Appropriations Committee contends that earmarks are declining, since earmarks in fiscal 2006 spending bills declined 14 percent to $17 billion from $19.8 billion in 2005.

But critics note that the decline is only due to stalled appropriations bills, not an actual decrease in earmarking. Those in favor of the McCain/Coburn bill, which would stop earmarking and limit lobbying, say that earmarks have increased remarkably in the last ten years.

But other lawmakers feel that earmarks are the only way to get funding for local and state projects that they believe have been neglected.

Congress trying to restore its reputation

The Abramoff scandal, in which Republican Congressman Bob Ney (Ohio) and House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (Texas) accepted golfing trips arranged by former lobbyist Jack Abramoff, has prompted each party to introduce legislation to limit lobbying. Although both Ney and Delay resigned their leadership positions shortly after the information became public, many members of Congress feel that more must be done to restore Americans’ faith in Congress.

Both Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Joseph Lieberman (D-Connecticut) worry that the public’s trust is lost and say that reform must happen in order to win back that trust.

Those who want to stop earmarks say that the problem is bigger than meals or trips with lobbyists. It’s the legislation process that’s gone awry. McCain and Coburn also are against inserting new provisions into conference reports that were not in either the Senate or House versions of the bill. They say this practice stifles debate and further empowers lobbyists.

Your input matters

What do you think of earmarks? Should Congress reform the current system of lobbying and legislation? What if an earmark funded a project in your area? Are McCain and Coburn on the right track?

Your representatives in Congress DO care what you think. Especially now -- 2006 is an election year and many representatives will be looking to reconnect with their constituents. Let your congressmen and women know what you think! Give your senators a piece of your mind! To find your reps, click here.

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Update Posted on: 1/29/2006