THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, December 21, 1995 TAG: 9512210016
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 31 lines
In all that has been written recently about campaign-financing reform, I haven't read a word about one of the more egregious practices that prevails on the Washington scene.
It involves those breast-thumping members of Congress who proclaim they do not take political-action-committee money. Invitations for their fund-raisers are sent to every lobbyist whose interests involve these matters under the jurisdiction of their committees. The invitation clearly states that only personal checks will be accepted for the generally accepted $250 to $1,000 charge. So far, so good. But then you receive a personal phone call from the member or his staff literally begging you to attend and emphasizing the personal check requirement.
In essence, the member knows that the lobbyists, in most cases, are going to be reimbursed in some manner by their corporations - a violation of law by the corporation, not the member.
Any reform legislation must deal with this end run by these breast-beating purists.
JOHN SUMMERS
Duck, N.C., Dec. 11, 1995 by CNB