Steny Still A Star At Sleazy Pork Parties

Edited extracts from a January 31, 2008 USA Today story by Ken Dilanian:

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2008-01-31-cover31_N.htm 

In the past decade, lobbying firms and special interests have purchased discreet town houses on Capitol Hill.  Despite a strict new ban on gifts to lawmakers, lobbyists routinely use these prime locations to wine and dine members of Congress while helping them to raise money. The lawmakers get a venue that is often free or low-cost. The lobbyists get the sort of money-fueled proximity the new lobbying law was designed to curtail. The public seldom learns what happens there because the law doesn't always require fundraising details to be reported.

The new law requires disclosure of "bundling" of contributions by lobbyists — long a hidden fixture of fundraising. [Steny Hoyer is the leading practitioner of "leadership PAC bundling" in the House.] But some observers say the new gift and trip restrictions put more emphasis on helping Congress members raise money as a way of gaining access to lawmakers.

The receptions illustrate that lawmakers still are allowed to accept valuable favors from special interests willing to pay for access, despite promises by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi [and Steny Hoyer] that the restrictions on gifts and trips would "break the link between lobbyists and legislators." Because some lobbyists charge Congressmen less than $200 for rent , campaigns don't have to itemize those payments — leaving no record connecting the lawmaker to the lobbyist-hosted event.

"These houses are tangible proof of how big a business the pay-to-play system has become," said Meredith McGehee of the non-partisan Campaign Legal Center.

Last year through October, Democratic lawmakers outraised Republicans among business interests by $324 million to $253 million, and among registered lobbyists by $6.9 million to $5.3 million, according to the non-partisan Center for Responsive Politics.

Asked about lobbyist fundraising last spring, Hoyer said, "If you look at all the convictions and the people who are serving in jail, it's not about campaign money. It's about taking money directly from special interests, in your pocket. The beauty of campaign finance is there is disclosure. People can see."

But two months after the enactment of a bill Hoyer claimed would curb the influence of lobbyists, USA Today spotted House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer's black SUV and driver double-parked in front of the town house owned by partners in the lobbying firm Williams & Jensen, while the Maryland Democrat stopped into a fundraiser for Rep. Nydia Velázquez, D-N.Y.

Hoyer declined to answer questions for this story. His spokeswoman, Stacey Bernards, said, "This may be an area where there could be more transparency."