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Opinion

Who is Picking Up the Tab for Sunday Brunch?

Q:I am a staff member of the House Appropriations Committee. After church last Sunday, my husband and I chatted with a married couple who are new to the area. They were both very nice, so we invited them to brunch at a diner where my husband and I go every week after church. When the check came, which was $65 for the four of us, the husband, Jason, insisted on paying, despite our objection. I noticed that he initially tried to use a corporate credit card but then switched because the diner only accepts cash. My question is this: I know that the new rules forbid accepting gifts from lobbyists and from companies that retain lobbyists. However, Jason is not a lobbyist, and I am not aware that the company Jason works for retains any lobbyists. I thought it would have been impolite to ask. Was it OK for Jason to pay?

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Rep. Frank Pallone waits Feb. 8 for the start of a news conference to introduce legislation to keep arsenic and lead out of fruit juices.
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30 Hill Aides to Know

30 Hill Aides to Know

The clear expectation is Congress will get very little done this election year. But what does get accomplished, at least in the high-profile areas, will largely be the handiwork of an elite group of staffers — who combine policy expertise, political acumen and the trust of their lawmaker bosses to drive much of the legislative agenda.

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