Copyright 2000 The Washington Post
The Washington
Post
November 1, 2000, Wednesday, Final Edition
SECTION: EDITORIAL; Pg. A32
LENGTH: 354 words
HEADLINE:
Rep. Moran's Loan Deal
BODY:
REP. JIM MORAN
was wrong to accept an unsecured, open-ended $ 25,000 loan from Schering-Plough
Corp. lobbyist Terry Lierman and--only days later--enlist as a cosponsor of a
bill to help that company preserve its monopoly on an allergy
drug. Even if you accept the explanations of the two men that
the deal was based solely on their longstanding personal friendship, it was
inappropriate. Their direct professional relationship should have given Rep.
Moran more than a little pause; the possible legal improprieties require an
official investigation. Mr. Moran is running for reelection in Virginia. Mr.
Lierman is running against Rep. Connie Morella in Maryland.
Mr. Moran
insists that his support of Schering-Plough's efforts to get a patent
extension for its profitable drug Claritin had nothing
to do with the loan. He said he was convinced by the company's argument that it
deserved the extension because the drug's entry into the market
had been delayed. The company had tried for years and failed to get an
extension just for Claritin, and its big-time lobbying team had
begun pushing instead for a patent review board--a device that
would have invited a constant stream of such cases.
Mr. Moran needed
money at the time and got the loan at 8 percent annual interest; the minimum
rate for an unsecured personal loan in the Washington area was then 12.5
percent. House members are told to contact the ethics committee before entering
into such loan arrangements; and not to accept gifts valued at more than $ 250
unless the committee issues a written determination. Mr. Moran contacted the
committee three days after getting the loan; and, rather than state that it was
coming from a lobbyist, he said only that it was from an individual, and he
wondered if there was any "limitation on the profession of the creditor."
Why so late and so vague? Members of Congress are prohibited from
soliciting a gift from anyone with interests before the House. Was there any
soliciting in this instance? These and other questions as to the conduct of both
men beg for better answers than have yet been given.
LOAD-DATE: November 01, 2000
