Ethics in the News

Watchdogs applaud earmark ban, wonder about loopholes

SOURCE: Humberto Sanchez // National Journal's CongressDaily

11 Mar 2010 // Government watchdog groups Wednesday welcomed House Democrats' ban on earmarks benefiting for-profit companies but said more needed to be done, and they raised concerns that the move could make the earmark process less transparent.

House bans earmarks to for-profit companies

SOURCE: Paul Kane // Washington Post

11 Mar 2010 // Facing an election-year backlash over runaway spending and ethics scandals, House Democrats moved Wednesday to ban earmarks for private companies, sparking a war between the parties over which would embrace the most dramatic steps to change the way business is done in Washington.

Nancy Pelosi's office was told of concerns about Eric Massa

SOURCE: Carol D. Leonnig // Washington Post

11 Mar 2010 // House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office was notified in October by then-Rep. Eric Massa's top aide of concerns about the New York Democrat's behavior, two congressional sources familiar with the matter said Wednesday night.

Georgia Democrats Press Ethics Committee to Complete Investigation of Rep. Deal

SOURCE: Jennifer Yachnin // Roll Call

11 Mar 2010 // Georgia Democrats this week called for the House ethics committee to wrap up its investigation of Rep. Nathan Deal (R-Ga.) before he leaves Congress at the end of March.

House bans earmarks to for-profit companies

SOURCE: Paul Kane // Washingon Post

Lobbyists put on the dog for congressional favorites.

SOURCE: Paul Barton // Arkansas Times

11 Mar 2010 // WASHINGTON — Arkansas members of Congress, especially Rep. Mike Ross, continue to benefit from fund-raisers where corporate lobbyists are either the hosts or main guests, according to listings posted by the Sunlight Foundation, a watchdog group.

The events are often in lobbyists' townhouses or in some of the finest restaurants in the nation's capital or at upscale golf courses and lodges.

House Curbs Earmarks, Senate Balks

SOURCE: Corey Boles // Wall Street Journal

11 Mar 2010 // WASHINGTON—House Democrats, facing rising public anger over the ways of Washington, said Wednesday they were banning so-called earmarks that direct government funds to for-profit companies.

Patton Boggs is in negotiations to purchase the Breaux-Lott Leadership Group

SOURCE: Dan Eggen // Washingon Post

11 Mar 2010 // Washington's biggest lobbying firm is on the verge of getting even bigger. Patton Boggs LLP, which rang up nearly $40 million in lobbying last year, is in negotiations to purchase the Breaux-Lott Leadership Group, according to sources familiar with the talks.

Corker shaping payday loan rules in financial reform package

SOURCE: Dave Flessner // Chattanooga Times Free Press

11 Mar 2010 // U.S. Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn.., said Wednesday he believes Senate negotiators are close to a bipartisan agreement over a new set of financial industry regulations.

But proposals for federal controls over non-bank lenders continue to spark debate between payday lenders such as Check-Into-Cash Inc., in Cleveland, Tenn., and critics of the $6.5 billion-a-year payday lending industry.

Lobbyists’ Earmarks Left in Flux

SOURCE: Anna Palmer // Roll Call

11 Mar 2010 // Lobbyists are bracing for a tumultuous appropriations season following the decision Wednesday by House Democrats to bar earmarks to for-profit companies.