Reid, Pelosi Develop Own 'K Street Project'
By BrianFaughnan Posted in Congress — Comments (0) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
Meet the New Boss.
When Democrats campaigned for Congress in 2006, they pointed to a reform agenda aimed at curbing the worst of the abuses of the Republican Congress. One of the signature reforms was a supposed end to 'The K Street Project,' in which elected officials pressed lobbying firms to hire Republican lobbyists instead of Democrats. And while the Democratic leadership has apparently not resorted to forcing firms to hire Democrats -- yet -- they are insisting that K Street's leading companies and associations must drop their own legislative priorities and interests, and instead push for those of the Democrats:
...Democratic leadership staff convened a meeting with a number of key lobbyists Wednesday with aides from Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.), House Ways and Means Chairman Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.), Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Reid and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.). One Democrat described the meeting as a “come to Jesus moment” designed to push K Street to abandon its allegiance to the GOP and throw its weight behind the bill.
That session comes just a week after Reid took National Association of Manufacturers President John Engler to task for involving the group in the 2005 “nuclear” option fight over Democratic filibusters of President Bush’s judicial nominations. The confrontation came during a closed-door meeting with Reid and top members of NAM, and those close to the Majority Leader said his decision to openly express his displeasure was designed to be the beginning of Reid’s offensive against K Street.
Correct that: Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) HAS recreated the K Street Project, lock, stock, and barrel:
Menendez and others warned that businesses will find an increasingly inhospitable environment on Capitol Hill if they do not move quickly to alter not only the political composition of their lobbying shops but also proactively work with Democrats to move legislation.
Democrats have always been frustrated with the business interests in the lobbying community because they don't agree with liberal Democrats on policy. Is it any surprise that entities like the National Association of Manufacturers and the Chamber of Commerce don't back the leadership's agenda? Those groups favor low taxes, less regulation, and reduced mandates. And now Democrats are resorting to blackmail to get them to change their agendas and their hiring practices.
How is this different from what the Republicans did?