Loophole in gift ban allows government-funded freebies

0 Comments | USA TODAY, March, 2007 | by Ken Dilanian

When Democrats took control of Congress in January, they passed a sweeping set of ethics rules, including a ban on gifts that prohibits lobbyists from buying a lawmaker as much as a hamburger.

But the gift ban left in place a loophole: It doesn't apply to government agencies and public institutions. That exemption, which dates back more than a decade, leads to a stark disparity when it comes to public and private universities, which compete fiercely for federal money.

While private universities are banned from giving gifts, public universities can offer members of Congress free tickets to some of the country's most sought-after sporting events. That includes the upcoming NCAA men's basketball tournament, in which 43 of the 65 teams represent public schools. ...