New ethics rules get St. Paul tryout

— -- Republican lawmakers have worked to distance themselves from the scandals that, in part, cost them control of Congress in the 2006 elections, supporting stricter ethics rules meant to end lobbyist-sponsored parties, travel and gifts.

Yet like the Democrats in Denver, it's party time for Republicans next week during the four-day national convention at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. Republican members of Congress, other elected officials and those who want access to them can drink cocktails and nibble appetizers at scores of receptions, relax in hospitality suites and skyboxes and take in concerts from the likes of the Charlie Daniels Band and Smash Mouth.

Rep. Mike Castle, R-Del., who has sponsored several ethics bills in recent years, says he looks forward to seeing how the new rules work at his party's convention, which begins Monday.

"There is always work to be done, and I hope that we can expand upon these reforms in the future to ensure greater transparency in government practices," Castle said in an e-mail.

Government watchdog groups such as Public Citizen say it's already clear that there needs to be a tightening of the rules — which were largely in response to the scandals surrounding former lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

Abramoff, who pleaded guilty in January 2006 in a wide-ranging public corruption investigation, has cooperated with federal prosecutors and has been responsible "for the convictions of a member of Congress, five high-level legislative branch officials, one high-level executive branch official and two other mid- to low-level public officials," the Justice Department said in court documents filed Wednesday.

"The irony of all this is the laws and ethics rules that apply to the conventions are quite fine. The problem is that no one's enforcing them," says Craig Holman, Public Citizen's point man on congressional ethics. "The parties have changed somewhat in structure, but there are still these huge, lobbyist-studded soirees."

The exemption allowing lawmakers access to "widely attended events" with 25 or more non-lawmakers is a particularly large loophole, says Sheila Krumholz of the non-partisan Center for Responsive Politics.