This letter in the Washington Post from Gary Kalman of U.S. PIRG drying the crocodile tears of lawmakers and lobbyists over the new lobbying restrictions passed by the House and Senate is short, but pretty much says it all.

That Common Touch


Thursday, August 9, 2007; Page A16


In the Aug. 7 news story "Draining the 'Swamp' Is Not So Easy," on the recently enacted lobbying rules, lawyer Cleta Mitchell was quoted as saying that new travel restrictions will leave members of the House and Senate "hermetically sealed in the Capitol" with "little interaction . . . with anyone outside that rarefied environment."


It's hard to see how traveling with lobbyists on private jets to elite European golf resorts qualifies as mixing with the people.


GARY KALMAN

Democracy Advocate

U.S. Public Interest Research Group

Washington