OBAMA, FEINGOLD LAUD PASSAGE OF STRONG HOUSE ETHICS PACKAGE
Senators urge Congress to send bundling disclosure, other reforms
to President
May 24, 2007
WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Senators Barack Obama (D-IL) and Russ Feingold
(D-WI) today released the following statement lauding the House passage
of lobbying reform legislation that included bundling disclosure and
restrictions on the work of former lobbyists who transition to work
on Capitol Hill. Senators Feingold and Obama sponsored the Lobbying
and Ethics Reform Act, which set a standard for strong ethics legislation
this Congress and included similar provisions.
The joint statement is below:
“Last November, the American people sent Congress a clear message
– ‘Clean up your act.’ We heard that message loud
and clear and redoubled our efforts to change the culture of the Capitol.
Our bill proposed: a full ban on gifts and meals from lobbyists; an
end to subsidized travel on corporate jets; closing the revolving
door to ensure that public service isn’t all about lining up
a high-paying lobbying job; an end to lavish, lobbyist-funded parties
honoring members of Congress at the national party conventions; and
a requirement that lobbyists disclose the contributions that they
bundle for members of Congress.”
“All of these reforms made it into the final Senate bill, which
we strongly supported and which passed the Senate overwhelmingly.
Although the House did not embrace all of them, we are pleased it
has now passed a lobbying disclosure bill so the process for enacting
these reforms can move forward.”
“In particular, we applaud the House for passing a separate
bill to require the disclosure of bundled contributions. This disclosure
of bundling practices will go farther than any other provision in
the lobbying reform bill to shine a spotlight on the dangerous connection
between money and legislation. Since the era of soft money in federal
elections is over, influence is often acquired today not by how much
you contribute, but by how much you raise.”
“We’re proud of the reforms we’ve made possible,
and hopeful that Congress will pass the strongest possible ethics
legislation in order to change Washington from a place that’s
only open to those with the cash and connections to one that represents
the voices and votes of every single American.”
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