Ethics, calories and spas?

By LARRY MARGASAK
Associated Press Writer

January 8, 2003, 7:57 AM EST


WASHINGTON -- House Republican leaders concealed from the chamber's ethics leaders the now-approved rules changes that allow charities to give lawmakers free vacations and make it easier for lobbyists to send food to congressional offices.

Rep. Joel Hefley, a Colorado Republican who led the House ethics committee in the last Congress, said he learned of the proposals Monday -- too late to organize an effort to delete them from a larger package of rules revisions. The package passed Tuesday on a party-line vote.
Hefley said he wants to find a way to have lawmakers help a legitimate charity but added, "You don't want boondoggle deals where you get a nice vacation and someone else pays for it."
"The Republican majority made much of past abuses in this body," said Rep. Martin Frost, D-Texas. "Yet, now that the Republicans believe they have a safe and secure majority for the foreseeable future, they want to undo some of the significant strides that were made."