Congressional ethics still lacking

The FBI is again investigating the link between campaign contributions and spending earmarks. But you don't need a federal probe to determine that Congress isn't sufficiently serious about the abuse.

The FBI probe is reportedly concentrating on a lobbying group, PMA, and its flamboyant head, Paul Magliochetti, a former aide to Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., chairman of the defense appropriations subcommittee in the House.

PMA had been especially successful in getting defense earmarks for its clients. Meanwhile, earmark sponsors were presumably rewarded with campaign donations. PMA closed its doors last month.

Rep. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., recently pointed out in a New York Times guest op-ed column that the House of Representatives is shockingly permissive on the subject of earmarks and campaign gifts. House members are told they may not have a "financial interest" when they ask for an earmark.

But as cited by Rep. Flake in his column, the House ethics manual indicates that campaign contributions "generally would not constitute the type of 'financial interest' referred to in the rule."

Rep. Murtha is hardly the sole beneficiary. Remember Alan Mollohan? He's the West Virginia Democratic congressman whose cozy relationship with some campaign donors attracted FBI attention in 2006. According to press reports at the time, investigators were looking into allegations that he steered congressional appropriations to organizations that employed some of his major campaign contributors.

Mr. Mollohan still represents West Virginia in the House. And according to a list of defense spending earmarks and campaign contributions compiled by the Seattle Times, as of last year he was still earmarking funds and receiving campaign contributions from the recipients.

Rep. Flake is pressing the House Ethics Committee to look at the impropriety of allowing members to receive campaign contributions from earmark beneficiaries. So far it hasn't taken up his challenge.

Meanwhile, the new Office of Congressional Ethics announced Wednesday it has launched six probes that could result in referrals to the House Ethics Committee. It is known to be looking into allegations that fundraisers for Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., D-Ill., offered to raise money for former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich if he would appoint Jackson to the U.S. Senate.

It's hard to see how that exchange would be much different from taking campaign contributions from earmark beneficiaries.As long as Congress tolerates rules that invite abuse, it can't be considered serious about ethics reform.