The misguided plan to revive the “K Street Project”

Issue One Chief of Policy, Programs and Strategy Meredith McGehee issued the following statement in response to news that National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) Chairman Rep. Steve Stivers (R-OH) is seeking to revive a version of the misguided K Street Project, made famous by former House Majority Whip Tom DeLay.

“Reviving the ‘K Street Project’ is the most misguided priority for the Republican House leadership since they tried to abolish the Office of Congressional Ethics in January. It’s a bold-faced plan to pick winners and losers based upon who can best help one party win the fundraising arms race for re-election.

Congressional approval is polling at six percent, the director of the Office of Government Ethics has resigned before his tenure was completed and a key House leader is hanging a ‘government for sale’ sign on the Capitol.

Politics is about appearances — and this move by NRCC Chair Stivers appears to be leaving the American people on the sidelines and inviting only those interests who can afford to pay-to-play.”

Issue One’s recent report, “The Price of Power” also revealed how the political party committees in the House — the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) and Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) — squeeze the members of Congress serving on the most powerful legislative committees for millions in “party dues” every year, auctioning off plum committee assignments.