WASHINGTON, March 3 (UPI) -- Reform advocates claim the desire to change the lobby rules in the U.S. Congress is losing stream.
They point to Thursday's action in the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, which turned down a proposal to set up an independent office for congressional ethics oversight, The Washington Post reported.
The vote was a lop-sided 11-5 to defeat the idea put forth by committee Chairwoman Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and ranking member Sen. Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn.
The decision left Melanie Sloan, executive director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics, telling the Post Congress seems to be turning to "the enforcement route."
"What's that going to do?" she asked. "Nothing much."
The drive for lobby reform was spurred by the investigation into actions by Jack Abramoff, whose efforts were linked to several members of Congress. Abramoff has pleaded guilty to several charges and is reportedly helping investigators looking into alleged influence peddling on Capitol Hill.
But rather than bar lobby-related travel and gifts, Congress has been working to making the process more transparent by ordering more disclosure of lobby contacts, the Post said.
