REFORM AND TRANSPARENCY

None other than the esteemed snowmobile crasher Hugh Hewitt agrees with my position of transparency in looking at any lobbyist reform:

From Beyond The News
One Step Towards Transparency
—Hugh Hewitt

House of Representatives Speaker Dennis Hastert is moving quickly to tighten the rules against lobbying abuse in the aftermath of the revelations about Jack Abramoff. One of the suggested reforms--barring former House members from the floor--is long overdue.

While many former members of the House are indeed upright and honorable men and women and while there is nothing inherently wrong with the practice of lobbying, the advantage given to former members to stroll the floor during any session creates at least an impression of undue influence that must be countered.

This single and substantive reform, which requires no law but a simple rule change, will be a bold statement about the speaker's agenda and the pace of reform. It should be implemented quickly--as one step in a process of reform that promotes a renewed transparency and integrity in our nation's Capitol.