Dems trying to do their job

Democrats Claim a Better Idea on Controlling Lobbying
WASHINGTON, Jan. 18 - Congressional Democrats proposed a lobbying overhaul on Wednesday that they said far exceeded new Republican proposals in curbing the influence of moneyed special interests on Capitol Hill.

"Today we as Democrats are declaring our commitment to change, change to a government as good and as honest as the people that we serve," said Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, the Democratic leader.

Surrounded by dozens of House and Senate colleagues in the Great Hall of the Library of Congress, Mr. Reid and fellow Democratic leaders blamed close ties between lobbyists and majority Republicans for health care, energy and other legislation that they called too friendly to industry at the expense of the public.

"The Republicans have turned Congress into an auction house, for sale to the highest bidder," said Representative Nancy Pelosi of California, the House Democratic leader. "You have to pay to play. That's just not right."
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Representative John A. Boehner, Republican of Ohio and a candidate for House majority leader, said Republican misconduct was nowhere near the level engaged in by Democrats when they ruled the House before being swept out in 1994.

(WHA...?!?!?!?!?! Does he actually expect ANYONE to believe that BS?!?!?!)
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Democrats said that in contrast to the Republican approach, their proposal would end a Republican practice of pressuring lobbying firms and advocacy groups to hire on the basis of party affiliation.

It would also require lawmakers and senior officials to disclose when they were negotiating for jobs as they prepared to leave Congress, a proposal tied to the fact that a legislative author of the Medicare drug bill later became head of the drug industry lobbying arm. It would ban gifts to lawmakers from lobbyists.
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Some lawmakers said they thought Congress was overreacting to the lobbying scandal with an excess of new rules and requirements.

"Now we're going to say you can't have a meal for more than 20 bucks," said Senator Trent Lott, Republican of Mississippi. "Where are you going, to McDonald's?"

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Oh poor baby! You'll have to either eat cheaply (like the majority of the people in the US) or - gawd forbid - PAY FOR YOUR OWN FREAKIN' MEAL!!!!
F'k'ing crybaby repugs! Make me sick!!