Today's Washington Post has a lengthy front-page story on the
struggle between the Senate Democrats and Republicans to craft an ethics
bill that was eventually adopted 96 to 2. But there was one aspect on
which there was no conflict, according to the report:
"Opposition from so many conservative activists had raised
accusations from Democrats that Republicans were doing their bidding by
blocking passage, but other opponents were less partisan. Lobbyists for
the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, or AIPAC, also talked to
lawmakers about excluding from the measure's travel ban trips to Israel
sponsored by the group's nonprofit foundation affiliate. The
legislation, as written, would allow those trips to continue."
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Robert V. Keeley