Abramoff on Lobbying, Gifts, and Campaign Contributions
A good followup to <a href="http://www.cityethics.org/content/lessig-effects-elected-officials-depe…; target="”_blank”">my
last blog post</a>, on Lawrence Lessig's book, is <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7387331n&tag=contentMain;cbsCaro…; target="”_blank”">what
Jack Abramoff said on 60 Minutes this Sunday</a>, pushing his new
book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Capitol-Punishment-Washington-Corruption-Notoriou…; target="”_blank”">Capitol
Punishment</a>.<br>
<br>
America's most infamous lobbyist went almost overboard condemning both
himself and the system by which lobbyists get what they want out of
Congress. He said that he would make job offers to congressional
aides, and once he did so, "We owned them. Every request we make,
they're going to do it." Former Rep. Bob Ney's chief of staff said
on the show that he had a "corrupt relationship" with Abramoff, who
offered him a job at a hockey game. Ney, who also did time (the only
member related to this scandal to do so) said that he and Abramoff were "involved in a
culture of corruption together."<br>
<br>
Abramoff's lobbying firm spent $1 million a year on tickets for
elected officials and their staffs. That was in addition to trips on
private jets, golf outings in Scotland, and free meals and drinks at
his own restaurant.<br>
<br>
But it was less about money than it was about relationships.
Abramoff had personal relationships with staffs in many
congressional offices. He wooed them as much as a guy woos a woman
at restaurants and on vacations. The money spent may impress the
target, but it's the relationship that is the goal.<br>
<br>
Abramoff called the ethics reforms aimed at his scandal a "faux reform effort," just a "tweaking"
of the system. He said that "making a gift to someone who is making
decisions for the public" is bribery, and that includes campaign
contributions. He noted that now a lobbyist can't take a member to
lunch, but he can take him to a fundraising event, hand him $25,000,
and gain the same access and interaction.<br>
<br>
He said the only reform that will work is to prohibit
representatives and their staff from ever becoming lobbyists. We
should tell them, "Go home! Don't hang around Washington!" That
certainly wouldn't be enough, but it's not a bad idea.<br>
<br>
Finally, Abramoff said that he considered himself one of the most
moral of lobbyists because he gave 80% of his earnings to charity.
It is amazing how often charitable donations are part of government
corruption, one way or another.<br>
<br>
Robert Wechsler<br>
Director of Research-Retired, City Ethics<br>
<br>
203-859-1959