A pox on both their houses

The Democrats promised lobbying reform if they gained power. They gained power, but the lobbyists got to them before they could get to reform:

The longer Democrats fiddle with the stalled lobbying bill, the thinner the bill seems to get. Lobbying legislation, promised to help clean up the industry in the wake of the Jack Abramoff scandal, finally might be introduced Tuesday. But even the bill’s introduction has been a moving target.

Last week, Democratic aides and lawmakers confirmed that they had dropped controversial provisions dealing with regulation of grass-roots lobbying and bundling of political contributions, saying those items could be added as amendments. Restrictions on post-congressional lobbying employment also may be scaled back. And a Democratic leadership aide said Monday another key provision — a proposed ban on lobbyists sponsoring national party conventions — had been dropped.

Democratic leaders originally set a late March deadline for the bill. Now they’re promising delivery by Memorial Day. The Judiciary Committee markup of the legislation was penciled in for Wednesday but has now been bumped to May 17.