Jul 21, 2006 -- Myth of Current "Lobbying Reforms" Spelled Out for Members

In a letter sent today to all House Members, the Campaign Legal Center urged Members to co-sponsor the Ethics and Lobbying Reform Act of 2006 (H.R. 5677); the letter included a detailed comparison of current law with the various reform proposals before Congress. Introduced by Representatives Christopher Shays (R-CT) and Marty Meehan (D-MA), H.R. 5677 offers a set of needed ethics reforms that would address some of the most egregious ethics and lobbying abuses.

The chart provided to Members clearly reveals that the changes proposed in the bills that passed the House (H.R. 4975) and Senate (S. 2349) are purely cosmetic with the goal of fooling as many voters as possible in an election year. The Ethics and Lobbying Reform Act of 2006 would make substantive changes to a system that is clearly out of kilter and has driven Congressional approval ratings to historic lows. The changes proposed by Representative Shays and Meehan stand out in stark contrast in the side-by-side comparison with current law and the sham bills passed by the House and Senate.

To view the chart comparing current law to the various reform proposals, click here.

Below is the letter sent to all House Members.

_____________________________________

July 21, 2006

Dear Representative:

On behalf of the Campaign Legal Center, we are writing to urge you to join in sponsoring H.R. 5677, the Ethics and Lobbying Reform Act of 2006 introduced by Representatives Chris Shays (R-CT) and Marty Meehan (D-MA). The Shays-Meehan bill represents real ethics and lobbying reform and highlights crucial measures conspicuously omitted from the bill that recently passed the House.

Outlined below are the key provisions that distinguish H.R. 5677, the Shays-Meehan legislation, from the woefully inadequate bill the House passed earlier this year:

• Bans private interests that lobby from funding congressional travel: H.R. 5677 would prohibit private interests that lobby from paying for trips taken by Members and staff. Lobbyists may not plan, arrange, or participate in privately financed trips. Private interests that do not lobby must certify that they are in compliance with these restrictions.

• Requires Members to pay charter rates for flights on corporate jets: This provision would require Members to pay for flights on corporate jets at charter rates rather than reduced rates.

• Bans gifts to Members: H.R. 5677 would ban all gifts to Members and staff other than those subject to the existing gift rule exemptions. It would also close the loophole allowing lobbyists to pay for parties to "honor" or recognize Members at national conventions.

• Establishes an Office of Public Integrity: This legislation would establish an Office of Public Integrity (OPI) to introduce an independent voice into the ethics process and keep partisanship out of the House ethics system. The complete inaction of the House Ethics Committee in the 109^th Congress proves that the current system does not work and the House must do something to change this broken system.

• Requires lobbyists to disclose the campaign funds and financial benefits they provide to Members: H.R. 5677 would require lobbyists to disclose on lobby reports all financial contributions made to benefit Members, including campaign contributions, and contributions to foundations and other entities controlled by Congress. In addition, disclosure would also be required for fundraising events hosted, the amounts raised, and the contributions made by lobbyists to cover the costs of meetings, conferences, events or retreats held for a Member's benefit.

• Requires disclosure of grassroots lobbying activity: This legislation requires disclosure of paid efforts to stimulate grassroots lobbying by professional lobbying firms. This disclosure requirement does not apply to organizations' communications with their members to stimulate lobbying of Congress.

• Slows the revolving door: H.R. 5677 would increase the cooling off period for former Members and certain staff from lobbying Congress from one to two years.

Attached to this letter we have also included a comparison of current law and the lobbying reform bills before Congress. This chart outlines the differences between S. 2349, passed in the Senate; H.R. 4975, passed in the House; H.R. 5677, the Shays-Meehan legislation; and S. Res. 525, introduced by Senators Russ Feingold (D-WI) and Barack Obama (D-IL).

It is not too late for the House to pass meaningful and effective lobbying reform this Congress, but time is running out. Passing a bill that is essentially an exercise in political cover, such as the 'cosmetic' lobbying reform bill that the House passed earlier this year, does not serve well the institution or the American people. H.R. 5677 represents the lobbying and ethics reforms Congress should have passed in the first place.

Sincerely,

J. Gerald Hebert
Executive Director

Meredith McGehee
Policy Director

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