In addition to everything else you have to do, please let Washington know you are reading this newsletter. I was speaking with Gary Ruskin at Ralph Nader's Congressional Accountability Project, and he wondered if this online lobbying was getting any results. Please take the time to send a short e-mail note to GARY@ESSENTIAL.ORG. Just say one or two words to let him know that you learned about Lautenberg/Wellstone on the Internet. If you want to be on his e-mail list, also include the word SUBSCRIBE. Thanks.

Correction to an item yesterday: the chapter that contacted me yesterday was the Palm Springs chapter of United We Stand America, not San Diego. Los Angeles also asked for information.

DIATRIBES AND JUSTIFICATIONS

I chose to take on the Lautenberg/Wellstone legislation for the following reasons:

- It is easily understood.

- It will decrease lobbyist access, improving citizen access.

- There are absolutely no good arguments against it.

- The press is behind it; it has gotten wide coverage and promises to get more as the time for a vote approaches.

- It is being actively pushed by groups in Washington, meaning that we can get up-to-the-minute status and strategy tips.

- It helps us form alliances with other groups who are already pushing it and those who sign on when they find out about it.

- The House version is sham reform, so unless L/W passes the Senate, gift reform will be dead for a long time.

- It is going to the floor in a short time, meaning that we can have a short, focused campaign as a way to rally the troops.

- When it goes to the floor, it will pass overwhelmingly, as did the Inhofe discharge petition bill, for the same reasons.

After it passes, we can ask around in DC what is the best bet to push next. Some of the decision making should be based on the merits of a bill, but it is also important to know what is actually on tap. L/W was on tap, so we seized the moment, and having done so we will win.

Together, we can eliminate bribery on the Hill. Along the way, we may learn something about how Congress works (or doesn't).

In case you are wondering if you should wait for some particularly critical time to call or write, the answer is that any time is the best time, but the sooner the better. A steady stream of random calls and letters shows the Members that the voters are staying interested, but if you wait too long, the bill may be defeated before you take action.

SCUTTLEBUTT

It is very tricky to get a responsible reform bill to a vote. I hope you find the sudden changes in direction interesting. It is an eye opener for me how things shift minute by minute in the jousting over legislation. Let's keep watching and learning.

Senators Lautenberg and Wellstone appear to have been playing a game of chicken with the leadership. Since the committee leadership wouldn't let them get their bill to a vote, they decided to take it directly to the floor as a rider to another bill. They tried this Tuesday, but the leadership stopped them by cancelling all role call votes for the remainder of the day.

But that won't stop L&W. Thursday, they will ask for unanimous consent to introduce the bill on the floor. A vote might fail, but unanimous consent requires that someone stand up as the goat to receive all the bad press. Congress is basically a collection of cowards, so it probably will go through. It reminds me of schoolyard games.

If they get unanimous consent, a date will be set for a floor vote on the bill, and it will finally get a bill number. That will make it much easier to track and push it. And push we will!

Over in the House, the Democratic Leadership hates gift reform. That is why HR.823, the Bryant Gift Reform Bill, is so dumbed down that lobbyists laugh uproariously about having to bring a "designated payer" from their client's corporation to pick up the tab at meals. Word is that this bill may sit around in committee for awhile, but that it will eventually pass.

We want our Representatives in the House to amend HR.823 up to the standard of Lautenberg/Wellstone, so that when the House/Senate conference committee meets to iron out the differences, the legislation on both sides will be strong. If the House bill is weak, the final legislation that goes to the President will be lukewarm.

DISCLAIMER: I am reporting the facts, but the interpretations of events are my own. However, I feel that they are reasonable interpretations given the peculiarity of the events described.

Please also note that there are those in the leadership of the Senate who are very dedicated to responsible reform of Congress.

These bills are just two of many hundreds of bills in the Congress. Most Members haven't heard of either one. If they receive lots of contact from you and others, they will make a point of finding out about them. We must show them that we are tracking these bills very closely, so they are not tempted to sidetrack them by voting to refer them to a committee or propose weakening amendments.

SENATE

Send cards and letters and make phone calls to your Senators. Ask them to support the Lautenberg/Wellstone gift reform legislation.

HOUSE

Tell your Representative, "Please don't support HR.823, the Bryant Phony Gift Reform, unless it is amended to be like the Lautenberg/Wellstone reform legislation in the Senate."

We need to get a champion in the House for this. Rep. Eric Fingerhut, of Pennsylvania and Rep. Clayton of South Carolina are two possible candidates (hint, hint; nudge, nudge).