Cutting pay to opposing lawmakers

Buried in a WaPo article on the minimal lobbying reforms the Republicans are allowing(they banned lobbyist's buying meals and sports tickets, but trips to Scotland are still okay) was this weird little mention.

Separately, the Senate approved by voice vote an amendment by Sen. James M. Inhofe (R-Okla.) that would deny to any lawmaker a pay increase that he votes against but that eventually becomes law.

What is this? So, if you vote against a pay raise you don't get it? How much do you want to bet we're going to start seeing all sorts controversial amendments attached to the pay raise bills?

So, the Republican leadership puts up a bill that says the House and Senate get a 10% pay raise and gay marriage is illegal. Vote against that and you don't get the 10% raise? Slimy and Shameless.

And, while we're on slimy and shameless, Sen. Rick Santorum has resumed his weekly "K Street" lobbyist meetings that he had suspended, "and has used the sessions to appeal for campaign aid, according to participants."

And, New House Majority Leader, and Tom Delay replacement, John Boehner “has traveled on more exclusive golf outings, lobbyist-funded vacations and fundraising excursions to luxurious destinations than he has on return trips back to his Ohio district to visit constituents during this time period." ( Jan. 99 - Sept. 2005)

Good thing they replaced Tom Delay with that reformer Boehner, eh?

And, amidst all this, Sellout McCain is not letting me down.

Good-government advocacy groups working on lobbying reform say their longtime ally Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) has played a smaller leadership role on the issue than they had expected.

McCain’s lower-than-hoped-for profile on the sensitive subject coincides with what prominent lobbyists describe as a quiet effort by his political team to court inside-the-Beltway donors and fundraisers in preparation for a possible 2008 presidential run.