EDITORIAL SENATE BANS SOME PERKS.It's hard to be a lawmaker in Washington these days. First, San Diego San Diego (săn dēā`gō), city (1990 pop. 1,110,549), seat of San Diego co., S Calif., on San Diego Bay; inc. 1850. San Diego includes the unincorporated communities of La Jolla and Spring Valley. Coronado is across the bay. Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham gave everyone a bad name by accepting outrageously expensive gifts from a defense contractor Noun 1. defense contractor - a contractor concerned with the development and manufacture of systems of defense armed forces, armed services, military, military machine, war machine - the military forces of a nation; "their military is the largest in the region"; who just happened to win government contracts Cunningham was involved in awarding. Now, the scandal surrounding lobbyist Jack Abramoff Jack Abramoff (born February 28, 1959) is a former American political lobbyist, a Republican political activist and businessman who was a central figure in a series of high-profile political scandals. has forced the Senate into supporting a ban on one of the most fabulous perks perk 1 v. perked, perk·ing, perks v.intr. 1. To stick up or jut out: dogs' ears that perk. 2. To carry oneself in a lively and jaunty manner. in politics - free gifts and meals. Not quite willingly, the Senate agreed Wednesday to this additional restriction on members' ability to take freebies from those seeking to influence their policy decisions. Now the bill must go to the House for a vote before the free meals will end. They ought to. This ban doesn't affect the larger problem of money influencing politics through political donations Noun 1. political donation - a contribution made to a politician or a political campaign or a political party political contribution donation, contribution - a voluntary gift (as of money or service or ideas) made to some worthwhile cause and independent expenditures, but it does show a certain, if reluctant, purpose on the part of lawmakers to clean up politics. |
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