From Tom Paine
By David Donnelly

On Wednesday, a federal judge in Miami sentenced disgraced and convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff to 70 months in prison. Within a few hours, some 900 miles away, the U.S. Senate passed a lobbying reform bill that sentenced America to ongoing scandal. The contrast was striking. With irony thicker than a wad of bills, Abramoff began to atone, but our elected officials did not.

Before receiving his sentence for a wire fraud conviction connected to his bizarre purchase of a casino fleet in Florida, the former lobbyist told federal judge Paul C. Huck that, In the past two years, I have started the process of becoming a new man. Abramoff is cooperating with federal prosecutors on a corruption investigation that is said to involve as many as 20 federal officeholders and congressional and Bush administration employees.

Meanwhile, back in Washington, senators passed a lobbying reform bill that would do almost nothing to reel in the next Jack Abramoff or, for that matter, themselves: The Senate largely avoided curtailing the behavior of lawmakers, The Washington Post’s Jeff Birnbaum dryly reported.

But that didn’t stop some from claiming a victory. Sen. Susan Collins, R-ME, said the bill helps restore the bonds of trust with our constituents [that have been] frayed. And it didn’t stop some from using hyperbole. This is a much tougher bill than anyone would have anticipated when we started this process, declared Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa.

There’s a sign that’s now up in front of the Capitol. It says ˜Not for Sale,’ said Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn. The fine print on that sign might as well say Already bought.

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