After a Little Delay
Posted on | February 21, 2007
With the ink still wet on new rules to keep lobbyists from tempting Congress with Delay-Abramoff-style perks, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) is already planning his own little golfing trip—this one to Puerto Rico, not Scotland. Because he uses a political action committe to keep the cash at arm’s length, though, he’s not breaking the rules:
This is the way the leadership PAC loophole works: Hoyer’s guests give thousands of dollars to his PAC. Because there are few restrictions on how PAC money can be spent, Hoyer’s PAC uses some of the cash to pay for the congressman’s trip to Puerto Rico. The PAC also provides entertainment, golf, even nifty little gifts bags for all the guests.
The lobbyists and donors who have supplied the cash for this party then pay their own way to Puerto Rico. And in return for their generosity, they get to golf and hang with the congressman in the Caribbean.
Hoyer’s PAC has booked 137 rooms for his May event. Lobbyists who didn’t want to be named tell us it will be a blast.
It may not look good, but it is legal, and well within congressional ethics rules.
Appetizing old Dem for sale! And if you’re waiting for the punch line, here it is:
Congressman Hoyer and his staff all declined to be interviewed on tape for this story.
Call his office and tell him what you think, or e-mail him. He’s hoping that you won’t bother.
