Category — Ethics Reform

Many Congressmen are cozy with Washington lobbyists but I doubt many have gone as far as Roskam did in immortalizing a couple of revolving door lobbyists in a painting in his Washington office.

According to “The Hill”, last month Peter Roskam’s wife Elizabeth, an artist, presented her husband with a painting she did depicting a scene from Roskam’s 2006 congressional campaign. The painting features the Roskams and their children as well as number of current and former staff members:

Jason Roe, a lobbyist with the Federal Strategy Group who was Roskam’s campaign manager, is also in the painting. The artist put him in a Michigan State University hat to reflect his diehard Spartan tendencies — the school wouldn’t accept him — but “humbled him” by dressing him in blue and maize, the colors of rival University of Michigan.

Other campaign aides, including Dean Thompson, Roskam’s legislative correspondent, and Brigitta Johnson, Roskam’s scheduler, are also in the painting.

David Mork, Roskam’s senior legislative assistant, and Mork’s then-girlfriend and now-wife Kirsten Mork are entwined in the painting. After meeting on the campaign trail for Roskam, the two worked together in the congressman’s office until they decided to marry.

Kirsten then landed another job as an associate lobbyist for Roe’s Federal Strategy Group.

Elizabeth Roskam is pleased her husband has the painting front and center in his office. “It’s something Peter can look at when he’s at his desk, a reminder of the fun times of the campaign.”

Isn’t that special. Seriously, it sounds like a beautiful gift, but that, of course, is not the point of my posting it here.

The point is simply to alert Peter Roskam’s constituents that there is a rather close connection between his office and the Washington lobbying firm Federal Strategy Group. Jason Roe, Roskam’s former campaign manager and Kirsten Mork, Roskam’s former Deputy Campaign Finance Director and former legislative assistant are lobbyists there. Roe is also a donor to Roskam’s current congressional campaign. Roskam’s current legislative assistant, David Mork, is married to Kirsten.

Here’s what the Federal Strategy Group has to say about it’s product:

More than any other lobbying firm, Federal Strategy Group understands what you want and we have the experience and expertise to deliver it. You want results - not process. Our team provides the access, advocacy, and advice to help you achieve those results.

First, we offer unparalleled access to top decision-makers. The abundance and strength of these relationships makes our team uniquely able to reach key public officials. Our lobbyists were selected from the top ranks of government, in part, because they have excelled in that professional arena. They bring with them relationships cultivated over years of public service. As part of our team, they grow and strengthen these relationships within government. As a result, Federal Strategy Group can open doors to get your message heard by the right people.

Maybe I’m too jaded but it sounds to me like what they are marketing is access to Peter Roskam and to other elected officials that they may be friendly with. And, as a voter and a citizen, it strikes me as wrong.

According to Open Secrets, Federal Strategy Group’s current clients include Verizon and American Airlines. Voters should bear that in mind as they examine Roskam’s bill sponsorship and voting record going forward.

Interestingly, when I tried today to verify today that David Mork is still on Peter Roskam’s staff, I found that I was unable. Neither Roskam’s Congressional website nor the House website provide any means for citizens to view a list of their Congressman’s staff members. Roskam likes to talk about transparency. He could make that happen tomorrow: a list of current staff members with bios on his House website. What about it Peter? Do we as citizens have a right to know? Roskam should also consider publishing his schedule on a regular basis so that we know who is lobbying him on what issues.

Peter Roskam cast his vote today against the establishment of a new set of ethics rules for the House of Representatives. The measure, which was passed despite Roskam’s vote, establishes for the first time an independent means of policing a Congress which had grown to be spectacularly corrupt during the Bush-Abramoff-Rove era. A number of legislators of Roskam’s Republican party, including Roskam’s ex-boss Tom Delay, were indicted and/or convicted on charges of serious corruption. One Democrat, William Jefferson, has also been indicted. During this period, the House Ethics committee proved to be completely ineffectual, prompting Democrats to push for independent oversight once they became the majority party.

There will now be an independent Office of Congressional Ethics which can initiate and investigate complaints without prior approval of the Ethics committee. Its powers are somewhat limited in that it will not be able to issue subpoenas and determinations on the validity of its investigative findings will still be left to the Ethics committee.

Most Republicans, including Roskam, fiercely resisted this reform. The final vote fell strongly along party lines though a few members from either side crossed over. One wonders why Roskam and his party fear independent oversight. Do they have more skeletons in their cloakroom?

Interestingly, if Denny Hastert hadn’t abandoned his seat in the 14th abruptly and Bill Foster hadn’t been elected to replace him, independent oversight may not have come to pass. According to The Swamp, prior to the vote on passage, the measure hung on a procedural vote that passed by a single Ay. Foster was there and voted yes. Hastert most certainly would have voted no. So a BIG thank you to Bill Foster and here’s hoping voters take you to the woodshed this fall, Peter. Once again you have demonstrated your insistence that government and corporate elites should be above the law.

During the Bush years, the House has been plagued by corruption, most spectacularly in Roskam’s party. Members of both parties have been indicted yet the House Ethics Committee has been largely silent and ineffective. Congress has not show the willingness to police itself. Under the current rules, only a current member of Congress can introduce an ethics complaint against another member. Members have shown a reluctance to do so, fearing politically-motivated retaliatory attacks. Something has to change.

Now, a resolution is pending in the House to change the way ethical issues are handled. The resolution, HR 895, would create an independent Office of Congressional Ethics within the House of Representatives. The office would be governed by a board consisting of six members, three appointed by the Speaker of the House and three by the minority leader. Current or recent lobbyists or members of Congress and current federal employees would be excluded from membership. The Office would have the power to initiate and investigate ethics complaints and would be required to report on its findings within set time-frames.

A vote was initially scheduled on the measure last week but was postponed while Republicans pushed for modifications to the measure. The resolution may now be brought up for a vote sometime this week.

Republicans in the House are unlikely to vote for a strong ethics measure such as this unless they know voters will hold them accountable. Residents of the 6th Congressional District should contact Peter Roskam and insist that he go on the record in favor of independent oversight and that he vote for HR 895 if it comes to the floor. Jill Morgenthaler and voters should both take Roskam to task this fall if he does not. Likewise, voters should thank and congratulate him if he does support this measure.

You may reach Peter Roskam’s office in Bloomingdale at (630) 893-9670 or in Washington at (202) 225-4561. Please tell him I said hello.