Lobbyists: Whose Calls Won't Be Returned

摘要

FORMER REPRESENTATIVE TOM DOWEY is crying foul over Capitol Hill's post-Abramoff push to change the rules of influence peddling. Now a lobbyist for blue-chip clients ranging from Time Warner to Fannie Mae, the Democrat from Long Island is a regular in the House gym-a privilege he may soon lose. The result, Downey says, will be a lot of boring basketball: "If they ban former members [from the games], who's going to pass the ball?" Bada-bing. Toss in a possible prohibition against dining out with lawmakers, Downey adds, and "the former members will all be fat because they're not allowed to work out anymore. And the current members will all be skinny because they're not allowed to eat lunch." Bada-boom.