An opinion by a House ethics panel this week limits the reach of a new law signed by President Bush in September. Among other things, the law was intended to govern the participation of lawmakers at lobbyist-sponsored events during national political conventions. Here is the text of that portion of the law:
“During the dates on which the national political party to which a Member (including a Delegate or Resident Commissioner) belongs holds its convention to nominate a candidate for the office of President or Vice President, the Member may not participate in an event honoring that Member, other than in his or her capacity as a candidate for such office, if such event is directly paid for by a registered lobbyist under the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 S. 120 or a private entity that retains or employs such a registered lobbyist.”
