Capitol Hill Restaurant Promises Delicious Loopholes Delivered to Your House Office
Good news, corrupt House staffers: One restaurant is doing everything in its power to ensure that your free ridenever ends! "Just Fresh" bakery has sent a press release to everyone in Washington assuring them that their delicious morning and lunch menus are totally compliant with new House Ethics rules.
The attached flyer and menu may not be a panacea to the sweeping House ethics reforms (sorry, we cant get you a free martini or on a G5), but it will help both lobbyists and members/staffers continue to have civilized meetings, briefings and casual receptions with food and drink of "nominal value."
We salute Just Fresh Bakery for their hard work. As we all know, this country would grind to a halt if House staffers ever had to pay for their own sandwiches.
The full press release is after the jump.
Just Fresh Bakery Cafe Market, a bakery-style restaurant and corporate caterer, is pleased to be "toothpick" rule-compliant under the NEW House ethics rules!
Only inside the beltway (and only at JUST FRESH) does this translate into the freshest of food presented in a House ethic's rules-compliant setting! Yes, for the next 20 months of this election cycle, lobbyists, members and staffers can snack (dare we say dine?) together under the still intact House "toothpick" rule.
While we will leave the boring legal memos summarizing last week's guidance from the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct to the lawyers, we will tell you that we have -
BREAKFAST, MIDDAY AND EVENING CATERING CHOICES THAT FIT WITHIN NEW HOUSE GUIDELINES
The attached flyer and menu may not be a panacea to the sweeping House ethics reforms (sorry, we cant get you a free martini or on a G5), but it will help both lobbyists and members/staffers continue to have civilized meetings, briefings and casual receptions with food and drink of "nominal value." Let our professional catering staff (and owners) ensure that your Just Fresh-catered events comply with all applicable legal and ethical guidelines.
**Please feel free to forward this email (and the attachment) to your colleagues at area law firms, lobby/PR shops, trade associations, corporate government affairs offices and PACs.
Guidance issued February 6, 2007 by the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct provides in relevant part - .
"Food or Refreshments of a Nominal Value. Members and staff may continue to accept "food or refreshments of a nominal value offered other than as part of a meal," even when the donor is a lobbyist, foreign agent, or entity that employs them. Under this provision, THE KINDS OF FOOD AND REFRESHMENTS USUALLY OFFERED AT RECEPTIONS (SUCH AS HORS D'OEUVRES, APPETIZERS, AND BEVERAGES), AND MORNING MEETINGS (COFFEE, JUICE, PASTRY, OR BAGELS), MAY BE ACCEPTED. This provision does not, however, allow the acceptance of a meal, or of food or refreshments offered as part of a meal." (emphasis added).
....And of course, look to Just Fresh to respond quickly if and when the Senate decides to act.