ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, May 14, 1996 TAG: 9605140026
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A4 EDITION: METRO
IN DISTRIBUTING tobacco political-action-committee campaign contributions on the floor of the House of Representatives, Rep. John A. Boehner of Ohio, chairman of the House GOP Conference, conceded that he had committed the ``appearance'' of wrongdoing.
So sorry, he says. He did it simply as a ``matter of convenience'' - the House floor being a place where his colleagues sometimes congregate. But the ``appearance'' of impropriety was a mistake, he concedes, so from now on, at the suggestion of several Republican legislators, Boehner will find other places to pass out cash from political-action committees.
Smoke-filled rooms maybe. Or perhaps Washington's street corners, where he could hand out cigarette companies' sample-size gift packs while he distributes their PAC contributions.
Boehner's indiscretion notwithstanding, let's keep in mind that virtually every member of Congress, House and Senate, is on the take from powerful special-interest groups. Indeed, Boehner's ``convenience'' defense is one that we can appreciate.
Distribution on the House or Senate floor may not look good, but it could save legislators a few of those near-nightly trips to the phone banks not far from the Capitol where they call lobbyists, corporate executives, labor-union leaders and other big-buck contributors to beg for money. ``We call it dialing for dollars,'' says Rep. Linda Smith, R-Washington, one of those pushing for campaign-finance reform.
It could also save lobbyists the trouble of having to hunt down lawmakers or hosting big parties for them every night to dole out their contributions. Not to mention the cost of stamps to mail out unsolicited gifts.
In deciding to play Santa Claus on the House floor, Boehner did nothing illegal. His blatant behavior, sad to say, merely illustrates how PAC payoffs have melded into the process of conducting the public's business.
He has apologized because his boner offended some of his colleagues. But the real offense is that Boehner and his bunch aren't doing more to resist the campaign-finance addiction that creates the "appearance" of a Congress up for sale.
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