"GOP Seeks Curbs On '527' Groups"

The Washington Post offers this report, which begins: "House Republican leaders proposed changes in lobbying laws yesterday that would include a crackdown on independent, big-money committees that heavily aided Democrats in the 2004 elections. The proposed ethics package would increase the amount of information that lobbyists must disclose and would, at least temporarily, cut off privately financed travel for lawmakers. The bill would also force lawmakers to disclose the pet projects they are seeking for their home districts." BNA Money and Politics Report offers more details on the legislative process (paid subscription required).

"Approps Chair Warns Against Line-Item Veto"

Roll Call offers this report (paid subscription required), which begins: "House Appropriations Chairman Jerry Lewis (R-Calif.) expressed concern Wednesday that granting line-item veto authority to the White House would cut into Congressional powers, potentially handing the executive branch the legislative authority to set a politically motivated agenda on Capitol Hill. Testifying before the House Rules subcommittee on legislative and budget process, Lewis said he is concerned the proposed Legislative Line Item Veto Act of 2006 would give the president the means to use the House and Senate floors to forward his political desires, as the measure would allow the administration to introduce spending rescission messages that require Congressional votes." See also this Roll Call oped by Scott Lilly

-- 
Rick Hasen 
William H. Hannon Distinguished Professor of Law
Loyola Law School 
919 Albany Street 
Los Angeles, CA  90015-1211 
(213)736-1466 - voice 
(213)380-3769 - fax 
rick.hasen@lls.edu 
http://www.lls.edu/academics/faculty/hasen.html 
http://electionlawblog.org