Trying to fix the image of Congress

Gazette Editorial Board

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Rep. Dave Loebsack, Iowa's 2nd District congressman, has proposed a federal law with admirable intent: Improving the reputation of Congress, where public approval ratings are running around 10 percent in most polls. His proposal - actually, two versions - sounds good at first.

However, Loebsack's effort to reign in the undue influence of congressmen who leave office but return to Capitol Hill as lobbyists is long-shot legislation. It also doesn't strike us as a measure that will do much to fix the image or effectiveness of Congress.

Loebsack is co-sponsoring a bill that forever would ban former members of Congress from lobbying as well as a more limited bill requiring a ban for five years (it's currently two years). He even pledged to never become a lobbyist.

We believe Loebsack is sincere. However, the full-ban bill has only one other co-sponsor, and little support from others in the Iowa delegation. There's also a question of constitutionality - it could violate the First Amendment right to petition the government.

Then there's the idea of trying to stop former congressmen from wielding influence, whether they're registered lobbyists or not. Not likely.

We think the bigger concern involves the influence of campaign donations in federal elections - huge amounts that have been accelerated by a pair of 2010 U.S. Supreme Court rulings that led to new political action committees dubbed “Super PACs.” Officially labeled “independent-expenditure only committees,” these PACs can't contribute directly to candidate campaigns or political parties. However, Super PACs can raise unlimited funds from corporations, unions and other groups, as well as individuals, toward “independent” expenditures that advocate for or oppose a candidate or cause. So far in the 2012 election cycle, 407 super PACs have raised nearly $154 million.

These PACs have drawn plenty of blame for stepped-up negative campaign ads and expanding political divisiveness that has turned off many voters.

Congressman Loebsack, we applaud your effort. But it's going to take a more powerful potion to cure what ails Congress. And we're skeptical about that body's collective desire to do much about it.

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