Boehner Opposes Lobbying Reform?

Rep. John Boehner appeared on Fox yesterday to stump for his leadership candidacy, and he appeared not be a fan of lobbying reform.

This weekend, House Speaker Dennis Hastert appointed Rep. David Dreier to lead a House GOP effort to craft lobbying reform. Asked about it on Fox News yesterday, Boehner said that "adding more new rules isn't the answer."

"Members can't do their job without interacting with the public and people who come to Washington and lobby for and against all kinds of issues. The fact is, if you look at the abuses that have been alleged, all of them involve violations of current federal law and/or House rules."

As caucus leaders and committee chairs, Boehner and Blunt rely on a team of K Street lobbyists and ex-congressional aides to help them craft legislation and set policy. Many Republicans believe that since Democrats will tar whoever wins as a creature of K Street, there's no need to condemn the culture of lobbying and pay-to-play. And Dreier suggested that he'll focus on increasing disclosure, rather than on a new regime of regulations.

Can they thread the needle? The press and many rank-and-file GOPers -- particularly the wings of the caucus -- the moderate Tuesday Groupers and the conservative RSCers... are clearly intending to vote for the candidate who best exemplifies the reform impulse. (Many conservatives, like Rep. Jeff Flake, blame K street's power for the proliferation of earmarks and the lack of fiscal restraint.)

Blunt's K Street ties have been more closely scrutinized that Boehner's. Can either of them say what needs to be said -- do what needs to be done -- without angering their allies?