Aug 2, 2007 -- Senate Lobbying Bill Passage: Statement of Meredith McGehee, Campaign Legal Center Policy Director

For too long the business of Congress has been shrouded in secrecy. This legislation will help shine a light in Washington's back rooms where special interests have been able to secretly buy access with bundled contributions and lobbyists have operated with little scrutiny. Too many Members have been perfectly happy to keep their constituents in the dark. With this legislation when members go back home to the fish fry or the milking contest, they'll be shaking hands with a better informed electorate.

Majority Leader Reid deserves credit for his tenacity on this bill against a host of obstacles and obstructionists. We can only hope that Senators who threatened to sink this bill in the name of earmarks will remain as energized on that reform going forward. We have long supported curbing the abuse of earmarks and look forward to working with those Senators in the future to ensure greater transparency.

The American people demanded a change in Washington at the polls last November. Certainly there is more to be done but this was the essential first step in restoring accountability to a growing fraternity of out of touch politicians. We are hopeful that President Bush will sign this bill quickly to enact these long-overdue changes.

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