Permanent Minority.

A number of corporate lobbyists with Democratic ties landed a story in the Hill newspaper, criticizing House Democrats for distancing themselves from the lobbying community. The story also notes that House minority whip Steny Hoyer is seeking “to make himself the first contact for K Street” on Capitol Hill, “hold[ing] regular meetings with lobbyists.” Such stories suggest Democrats are fudging what should be an all-out effort to draw a contrast between themselves and the Republicans’ culture of corruption.

Toward the Majority.

The same Hill story notes that House minority leader Nancy Pelosi and Representative George Miller are not bending to the lobbyists’ criticism and are pressing forward with their agenda to crack down on lobbying and ethics abuses.