36 Quotes by Melanie Sloan

Lobbying is cost-effective only for those who can pay for lobbyists. Those with an opposing view won't be heard as well as those with lots of money.

It doesn't seem to me that someone should get a tax deduction while they're writing public relations memos about how people should be able to smoke in restaurants.

That's because there's an ethics truce. Both parties will deny this, but there is in fact a truce that's been in existence since 1998. And under the terms of the truce nobody will file a complaint against a member of the other party.

The problem is, they don't want to enforce the ethics rules, and they don't have any interest in enforcing ethics rules.

Why did Sen. Frist suddenly decide to sell the stock in June after holding the stock for so long? Also, did the Senator order the sale based on insider knowledge that the value of the stock was about to decline precipitously?

Without oversight or enforcement, rule changes are virtually meaningless.

You have to have power to abuse it. You would be foolish to give money to a Democrat because they wouldn't be able to deliver anything.

Special interests do get more and they do get what they pay for despite the constant denial that lawmakers can't be bought,

An indictment is just the first step in the ever-evolving scandal involving Abramoff and the GOP Leadership. Now, Rep. Ney has some explaining to do. Given that Rep. Ney knew enough about SunCruz, Adam Kidan and Gus Boulis to insert comments about them in the Congressional Record, the House ethics committee should find out what else Rep. Ney knew about Abramoff's illegal activities.