Get real on ethics reform

Several US cities are way ahead of Congress when it comes to good governance.

from the June 28, 2007 edition

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Contrast this push for ethics reform at the local level with your "higher" forms of government. Much of the crisis of legitimacy facing the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and the World Trade Organization stems from a lack of transparency, further obscured (but not excused) by veils of diplomatic secrecy. And in the US Congress, despite some righteously good rhetoric, the watered-down ethics bill that dribbled out of the House last month didn't even call for an outside ethics commission – as Oakland, Atlanta, and other cities have – relying instead on "peer review." That's a practical impossibility in a legislature, where members need goodwill to get anything done.

The 110th Congress is running a replay of the 109th in 2006, when Republicans promised real reform after the Abramoff lobbying scandal – but then nudged weak bills through the House and Senate that never made it to conference.

This year's congressional conk out reflects a lack of resolve, not resources. Among the nearly 15,000 ethics officials on the federal payroll (excluding inspectors generals' offices), there are no doubt plenty of excellent ideas for ethics reform.

But for now, consider raising your voice in support of just three. First, public reporting on lobbyists' bundling of contributions. After the success of President Bush's fundraising "Pioneers," groups like Sen. Hillary Clinton's "Hillraisers" are corralling undisclosed contributions well into seven figures. Second, public disclosure of lobbyist-financed media campaigns and so-called astroturf (as in fake grassroots) communications to sway opinion. Some of these ad programs are now running into eight figures. And third, advance disclosure of so-called spending earmarks dropped into larger bills, so that pork projects are made public before the magic legislative dust settles.

This last item really matters, since earmarks tripled in the past decade to a total cost of $64 billion in 2006 – not to mention ironic, since Congressional "EarMarxists" are running right over mayors and local governments in their race to redistribute wealth for pet projects.

A Congress that deserves your money, not to mention your trust, has to do more than bar lobbyists from the floor and ban gifts and golf junkets. The party that gets real about ethics and campaign finance reform will keep (or win) the seats needed to earn their majority next year.

• Mark Lange is a former presidential speechwriter.

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