Style, substance differ in approaches to Capitol Hill lobbying

Published: 2006-08-18

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The list of those tarnished by Washington's lobbying scandals just keeps on growing. One of the latest casualties is Rep. Bob Ney, R-Ohio, believed to be "Representative No. 1" in an ongoing federal corruption investigation. Ney, who had close ties to disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff, announced Aug. 7 he would not seek re-election. By comparison, no lawmaker has been accused of having a relationship with, say, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, or with Catholic Charities USA, or other advocacy organizations that is so cozy it borders on the improper or illegal. "We don't have money to influence people," said Michael Stoops, acting executive director of the National Coalition for the Homeless. "We have to appeal to the moral and religious values of our public officials, and it's a much nobler way of doing things." Sister Simone Campbell, a Sister of Social Service who is executive director of Network, a social justice lobby founded by U.S. women's religious orders, spends about one-third of her time lobbying in Washington. Previously, she had been a lobbyist in California.

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