Pelosi angers Republicans and lobbyists alike

Paul Miller, President of the American League of Lobbyists, told a popular media watchdog blog that the recent focus on Jack Abramoff is "not necessarily hurting us (lobbyists) doing business."

But if I were them, I would be doing whatever I could to prevent Nancy Pelosi from becoming Speaker.  If the Democrats take back the House, Pelosi is planning a major overhaul of the rules regarding how lobbyists can interact with members of Congress:

In a little-publicized statement, Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), theHouse Democratic leader, has promised to change the chamber's rules toreflect the provisions of her not-so-modestly-named Honest Leadershipand Open Government Act of 2006. The months-old measure would, amongother things, prohibit House members from accepting gifts and travelfrom lobbyists or from organizations that employ lobbyists.

ThePelosi bill includes changes not only to House rules but also tofederal laws. Any changes in law would have to be approved by theSenate and the president before they could take effect. But the Housecan alter its own rules anytime, and that's precisely what Pelosiproposes to do as the House's first official act next year -- after itselects her as speaker.

But Pelosi is not only a threat to lobbyists, but the Republican Party as well.  Although appearing as a nice grandmother on the outside, she is a strong leader on the inside that is not easily intimidated.  Republicans know what they are in for if Pelosi becomes Speaker, which is why she is being used as a prop in numerous attack ads on Democratic candidates in pivotal races.  One such ad claims that Pelosi will spread her "homosexual agenda" as Speaker -- even though Pelosi herself is not homosexual.  The ad certainly implies that she is.

The strategy to reduce the power of high-priced lobbyists in Washington is just one of the many agenda items she wants the Democrats to have addressed in the first 100 hours of the new Congress in January.