Stampede for lobbying reform on Capitol Hill underway

After many unsuccessful attempts by individual members of congress to get effective lobbying reform the Abramoff scandal has pushed the leadership into sweeping lobbying reform. Some critics however say this is more cosmetic than it is substantive. Both parties have come out with proposals such as limiting the amount that members can receive from lobbyists for lunch, increasing the time before a member can become a lobbyist, banning private trips paid for by lobbyists and chaging the rules on how earmarks are done. Earmarks are individual projects that are often added for members districts. Currently earmarks are often voted up or down as a whole package rather than as amendments so that the merits of the project can be debated. This often forces members to vote for projects that they do not agree with but want their own project.