2006年VOA标准英语-US Congress Moves to Curb Lobbyists

By Dan Robinson
Capitol Hill
06 January 2006

Acting¹ before the start of the second session of the 109th Congress, an increasing number of lawmakers are supporting legislation and proposing rule changes to limit the power and influence of lobbyists on Capitol Hill. The steps come amid mounting anxiety over the ongoing² federal investigation³ into activities of once-powerful lobbyist Jack⁴ Abramoff, who is cooperating in a corruption⁵ probe involving members of Congress. 

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Joseph Lieberman
  

In comments to reporters, Senate Democrat⁶ Joseph Lieberman threw his support behind an effort by Republican Senator John McCain aimed at curbing⁷ the powers of lobbyists.

"Now is our opportunity and really our responsibility to restore the trust of the American people in their elected government and, to the best of our ability, scrub clean the point where money, politics and government meet in America," he said.

Senator Lieberman's decision to back the main bipartisan effort in the Senate is significant, as lawmakers react to the expanding dark ethics⁸ cloud from the Abramoff matter which shows every sign of growing to include numerous members of both chambers⁹ of Congress.

Jack Abramoff (right) with his lawyer (2004 file photo)    
  
Mr. Abramoff pleaded guilty this week in federal court in Washington to charges of conspiracy¹⁰, mail fraud and tax evasion¹¹ relating to his lobbying activities, as well as similar charges in a Florida court.

Senate committee hearings since 2004 have focused on the former lobbyist's dealings involving Native American tribes who he has acknowledged defrauding¹² of millions of dollars, with the help of Michael Scanlon, once an aide to former House Republican Leader Tom DeLay. Mr. Scanlon has also pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges.

Senator Lieberman referred to this in his comments on Thursday,

"Mr. Abramoff and those in our government who became his partners in greed have demeaned our political system and obviously further diminished the trust of the American people in the integrity of their government, which is so essential to our democracy," he said.

Bipartisan lobbying reform proposals in the Senate mirror similar measures put forward by House Democrats¹³, and at least one key House Republican, Congressman¹⁴ Christopher Shays.

Last year, House Democrats proposed broad legislation aimed at imposing¹⁵ stricter accountability and disclosure rules on lobbyists and members of Congress.

On Thursday, opposition¹⁶ Democrats announced an effort to attach the lobbying reform effort to a wider campaign to amend¹⁷ rules of the House.

Among other things, they want to prevent lobbyists from paying for or sponsoring congressional travel, and prevent former lawmakers from using their influence to lobby current members.

The number of House and Senate Republicans and Democrats donating to charity money received from Mr. Abramoff or his clients increases each day. Some 70 have now done so. 

 
John Cornyn
(file photo) 
  
Republican Senator John Cornyn says he is examining possible Abramoff-linked contributions he may have received, adding he believes lobbying reform is needed:

"I have not seen specific bills on lobbying reform, but I am confident that lobbying reform is necessary and I would gladly support that effort," he said.

A number of lawmakers from both chambers have so far declined to give up Abramoff-linked funds, saying they don't consider the money to be politically tainted¹⁸ by the scandal.

Among these are Senator Harry¹⁹ Reid, the Senate Democratic Minority Leader, and Congressman Tom Reynolds, who heads the National Republican Congressional Committee overseeing fundraising for the Republican Party.

The numbers change each day as additional lawmakers, particularly those facing tight electoral contests in this congressional mid-term election year, recognize the need to distance themselves from Abramoff.

All of these developments come amid increasing pressure both within and outside Congress for lawmakers to fix a mostly broken congressional ethics monitoring system.

1 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

2 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

3 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

4 jack   

n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克

参考例句：

• I am looking for the headphone jack.我正在找寻头戴式耳机插孔。
• He lifted the car with a jack to change the flat tyre.他用千斤顶把车顶起来换下瘪轮胎。

5 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

6 democrat   

n.民主主义者，民主人士；民主党党员

参考例句：

• The Democrat and the Public criticized each other.民主党人和共和党人互相攻击。
• About two years later,he was defeated by Democrat Jimmy Carter.大约两年后，他被民主党人杰米卡特击败。

7 curbing   

n.边石，边石的材料v.限制，克制，抑制( curb的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Progress has been made in curbing inflation. 在控制通货膨胀方面已取得了进展。
• A range of policies have been introduced aimed at curbing inflation. 为了抑制通货膨胀实施了一系列的政策。

8 ethics   

n.伦理学；伦理观，道德标准

参考例句：

• The ethics of his profession don't permit him to do that.他的职业道德不允许他那样做。
• Personal ethics and professional ethics sometimes conflict.个人道德和职业道德有时会相互抵触。

9 chambers   

n.房间( chamber的名词复数 )；（议会的）议院；卧室；会议厅

参考例句：

• The body will be removed into one of the cold storage chambers. 尸体将被移到一个冷冻间里。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Mr Chambers's readable book concentrates on the middle passage: the time Ransome spent in Russia. Chambers先生的这本值得一看的书重点在中间：Ransome在俄国的那几年。 来自互联网

10 conspiracy   

n.阴谋，密谋，共谋

参考例句：

• The men were found guilty of conspiracy to murder.这些人被裁决犯有阴谋杀人罪。
• He claimed that it was all a conspiracy against him.他声称这一切都是一场针对他的阴谋。

11 evasion   

n.逃避，偷漏(税)

参考例句：

• The movie star is in prison for tax evasion.那位影星因为逃税而坐牢。
• The act was passed as a safeguard against tax evasion.这项法案旨在防止逃税行为。

12 defrauding   

v.诈取，骗取( defraud的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Second is the actor regards defrauding of the wealth as object. 第二，行为人以骗取钱财为目的。 来自互联网
• Therefore, DELL has the motive and economic purpose of intentionally defrauding the Chinese consumers. 因此，戴尔公司存在故意欺诈中国消费者的动机和经济目的。 来自互联网

13 democrats   

n.民主主义者，民主人士( democrat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The Democrats held a pep rally on Capitol Hill yesterday. 民主党昨天在国会山召开了竞选誓师大会。
• The democrats organize a filibuster in the senate. 民主党党员组织了阻挠议事。 来自《简明英汉词典》

14 Congressman   

n.（美）国会议员

参考例句：

• He related several anecdotes about his first years as a congressman.他讲述自己初任议员那几年的几则轶事。
• The congressman is meditating a reply to his critics.这位国会议员正在考虑给他的批评者一个答复。

15 imposing   

adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的

参考例句：

• The fortress is an imposing building.这座城堡是一座宏伟的建筑。
• He has lost his imposing appearance.他已失去堂堂仪表。

16 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

17 amend   

vt.修改，修订，改进；n.[pl.]赔罪，赔偿

参考例句：

• The teacher advised him to amend his way of living.老师劝他改变生活方式。
• You must amend your pronunciation.你必须改正你的发音。

18 tainted   

adj.腐坏的；污染的；沾污的；感染的v.使变质( taint的过去式和过去分词 )；使污染；败坏；被污染，腐坏，败坏

参考例句：

• The administration was tainted with scandal. 丑闻使得政府声名狼藉。
• He was considered tainted by association with the corrupt regime. 他因与腐败政府有牵连而名誉受损。 来自《简明英汉词典》

19 harry   

vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼

参考例句：

• Today,people feel more hurried and harried.今天，人们感到更加忙碌和苦恼。
• Obama harried business by Healthcare Reform plan.奥巴马用医改掠夺了商界。