Jul 11, 2007 -- Reform Groups Challenge Action by Senator DeMint to Block Conference on Lobbying and Ethics Reform Legislation

Our organizations condemn the action being taken by Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC) to block the Senate from going to conference on lobbying and ethics reform legislation, which the Senate passed in January.

The organizations include the Campaign Legal Center, Common Cause, Democracy 21, the League of Women Voters, Public Citizen and U.S. PIRG.

Regardless of his stated motives, the reality is that Senator DeMint's actions blocking the reform legislation are enabling inappropriate practices to continue in Congress that are addressed by this landmark reform legislation.

Senator DeMint is irresponsibly holding the Senate and the nation hostage by blocking essential legislation to help address the worst corruption scandals in Congress in thirty years.

Senator DeMint has expressed concerns that the new earmark rules for the Senate, which are part of the reform legislation, have not yet been enacted. Yet, it is Senator DeMint who is now blocking these earmark rules from being enacted by blocking the Senate from going to conference and passing the legislation which contains the earmark rules.

If Senator DeMint insists on continuing to block these critically important government integrity reforms, we strongly urge Senate Republican Leader McConnell to join with Senate Majority Leader Reid in offering and supporting the cloture motions needed to get the lobbying and ethics reform bill to conference.