Thursday, January 05, 2006

OPINION: THIS TIME, CONGRESS SHOULD REALLY CLEAN HOUSE

Lobbyist Jack Abramoff's guilty plea has been anticipated for months, but it still landed in the nation's capital like the detonation of a bomb. Suddenly, members of Congress were returning donations and distancing themselves from Abramoff, the flamboyant lobbyist who took influence peddling to new heights. No wonder. His guilty pleas to fraud, tax evasion and conspiracy to bribe public officials could unravel the system of money for favors that fuels Washington politics. When the dust settles, a half-dozen or more lawmakers could be implicated and possibly charged.

Serious reforms

While lawmakers closest to Abramoff looked for ways to put a positive spin on their association with him, others tried to detach themselves by finding reason to support legislation for more restrictions on, and greater disclosure by, lobbyists -- legislation that many of them heretofore have shunned. We applaud the sentiment, even as we look askance at the timing. This time, however, Congress should enact serious reforms that make the relationship between lobbyists and lawmakers transparent and accountable.

This would mean full and immediate disclosure by the clients lobbyists represent, the issues they are pushing and all of the favors -- meals, entertainment, sports tickets, travel, etc. -- that they provide to politicians, political staff and relevant government employees in pursuit of their goals. Serious reform would mean that lobbyists disclose not only the checks that they give to candidates and politicians but also the total contributions they are responsible for through cajoling, parties, fund raising and other activities.

Although previous attempts at reform of Washington-style lobbying have either failed or resulted in weak laws, the Abramoff scandal is likely to prompt a raft of new legislation. One reason is that, as an insider who is now playing for the other team, Abramoff is expected to describe in explicit detail how he offered favors in return for access to politicians, favorable consideration of bills, support for his clients' issues or actual votes.

Credibility on the line

Prosecutors only rarely are able to win cooperation from as big and well-connected an insider as Mr. Abramoff. This is why successful prosecution and conviction of elected officials who sell their offices is so difficult.

Abramoff admits that he defrauded some of his clients of millions of dollars, evaded income taxes and conspired to bribe lawmakers and their staff. His revelations and testimony will put a spotlight on a seamy aspect of politics that Americans know exist but who are not privy to the details.

Congress' credibility is on the line. This time, it should really clean house. A whitewash won't do.