IT'S GOOD TO BE IN CONGRESS AGAIN now that Republicans rool. Eat up!

Republicans opened loopholes in the House gift ban yesterday that will allow lobbyists to send them lobster, caviar, prime steaks -- as well as more modest fare.

Buried in the package of rules for the new Congress is one that permits supporters to reward lawmakers generously with catered meals worth thousands of dollars delivered to their Capitol Hill offices.

Lobbyists and supporters still may not take Congress members out to a lunch or dinner costing more than $50, but a group such as the National Restaurant Association could feed the staff of the Ways and Means Committee filet mignon dinners every night they worked on a bill with a minimum wage provision or other issue of interest to them.

One House aide described the change as a "loophole you can drive a truck through."

Another adopted provision allows organizations that file under Section 501(c)(3) of the tax code to pay for lawmakers’ travel and lodging expenses in connection with a charitable event.

This would allow organizations with that tax designation to pay for lawmakers and their staffs to travel to and stay at charity golf tournaments for example.

"You can imagine a scenario where an association -- for whatever the cause may be -- holds a charitable golf tournament in Pebble Beach," said Matt Keller, a lobbyist at Common Cause, a nonpartisan government watchdog.

Lawmakers and their staffs could be flown down to a golf tournament, put up in a fancy hotel, and flown back without paying more than a few dollars.

Democrats claim there is something bad about this! They're just fuddy-duddy spoilsports who don't know how to have a good time!

Right?

Best of all, now Bob Torricelli can run again, surely? And the 501(c)3 things means that science fiction conventions now have an in to pay off Congressional Representatives!

Okay: Or Maybe Not.

Read The Rest Scale: 3 out of 5.