The Abramoff Saga: The Worst Hill Scandal in Our Lifetime?

By Norman Ornstein
Roll Call Contributing Writer

Oct. 19, 2005, 12 a.m.

Stories of rot and corruption involving Congress just keep coming. The latest was the double dose of Jack Abramoff in The Washington Post. Tuesday’s story, detailing the multiple connections between Rep. Bob Ney (R-Ohio) and Abramoff, portrayed Ney in an extraordinarily bad light, including a recap of the water he carried to help Abramoff negotiate his purchase of gambling boats in Florida (a story that now includes a gangland-style murder), plus new light shed on a questionable contract for wireless service in the House, overseen by Ney as House Administration chairman, to a company that hired Abramoff as a lobbyist for a fat fee. At a minimum, this cries out for a full bore ethics investigation.

Schumer Advocates for Many on Panel

Nov. 16, 12 a.m.

As Senate Majority Leader, Lyndon Johnson once said of the Joint Economic Committee, “It’s as useless as tits on a bull.” But as that panel’s chairman during the 110th Congress, Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) seized the opportunity to elevate the traditionally low-profile post to the forefront of shaping policy. Read Full Article