WASHINGTON, July 31, 2007
House Passes Sweeping Ethics Bill
Measure Toughens Congressional Rules On Fundraising And Lobbying
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The sweeping bill bans gifts and travel, requires more disclosure of lobbyists' contributions and campaign fundraising, reins in travel on corporate jets and cuts off pensions for members of Congress convicted of taking bribes, reports CBS News correspondent Bob Fuss.
Some self-described watchdog groups called the measure, which now goes to the Senate, the most significant congressional reform in years.
The bill, drafted by Democratic leaders, would require House and Senate members to disclose those lobbyists who raise $15,000 or more for them within a six-month period by "bundling" donations from many people. It also would bar lobbyists and their clients from giving gifts, including meals and tickets, to lawmakers.
Senators seeking targeted spending projects or "earmarks" would have to publicize their plans 48 hours before the Senate votes on the proposals, and declare their families would not directly benefit financially. The House made similar changes to its rules governing earmarks in January.
House members approved the new legislation 411-8, even though some privately grumbled that it would complicate their fundraising efforts. Senate leaders expect opposition from some conservative Republicans, but they predicted final passage of the measure by week's end.
Some open-government groups said the bill should have gone further. But others hailed it as a far-reaching response to recent scandals involving lobbyists who urged or even bribed lawmakers to help their clients by quietly slipping earmarks into spending bills.
"These are big-time fundamental reforms that will end the secrecy surrounding the multiple ways in which Washington lobbyists use money to curry favor and gain access and influence with members of Congress," said Fred Wertheimer, president of the nonprofit group Democracy21.
The legislation marks Congress' most far-reaching reactions to scandals involving former lobbyist Jack Abramoff and former Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham, R-Calif. Both men are now in prison on corruption charges that in some cases involved congressional earmarks.
The House voted a day after federal agents searched the Alaska home of Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, who is involved in a probe of alleged bribery attempts by oil services executives.
The bill "mandates unprecedented disclosure of lobbying activities and turns the spotlight on the special interests who have grown too comfortable with their special access," Rep. Rahm Emanuel, D-Ill., said during the brief debate preceding the House vote. It "levels the playing field between the special interests and the voters," he said.
Reform advocates said the bill's main element involves greater disclosure of lobbyists who "bundle" campaign donations to lawmakers by soliciting checks from numerous people. Under current disclosure laws, their efforts often go undetected, but the lawmakers are well aware of the help they received.
Earlier versions of the bill would have required lobbyist-bundlers to disclose their contributions to federal candidates, but many lawmakers preferred to control such reports themselves.
The upcoming Senate debate may focus more on the earmark provisions. Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., said the bill "guts key earmark reforms," in part because it would allow the majority party's leaders — not the Senate parliamentarian — to rule on whether earmark disclosure requirements have been met.
Dissident senators would not be able to challenge the accuracy of the ruling, but they could try to strike an unreported earmark by offering an amendment.
The bill also would require former senators and top aides to wait two years before directly lobbying Congress. Ex-House members would have to wait one year. An earlier Senate version would have banned all lobbying activities for two years, not just direct contacts with lawmakers.
Democrats promised a crackdown on lobbying abuses when they campaigned in 2006 against a "culture of corruption" in Congress, then controlled by Republicans. The new Democratic-controlled House and Senate quickly embraced tighter guidelines on lobbying, spending and fundraising in January. But efforts to reconcile differences had bogged down in subsequent months.
The House-passed bill would:
© MMVII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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See all 40 CommentsHave you ever considered listing the bill number so somebody beside you could actually review the bill and see if your interpretation goes deep enough and is correct.
Posted by infidel_us
Seems you are right on target. I just love the caption here sweeping ethics reform. Yeah, they sure did, the swept it right under the table. Gutted most of the substantive aspects of the bill. Sweeping Ethics Reform - hahaha. Hold up the d/amn broom.
how quaint --
they pretended to do something for their money.
Now where is that article on "special interests" lobbyis.... legislation?
Posted by coffeehead
Oh, part of the ethnics reform is that they can't have lunch with lobbyists. Wow, tainted with bribery for having lunch. Now that's sweeping, don't ya think?
Posted by pepperp1 at 09:13 PM : Jul 31, 2007
I heard a single woman w/ 3 kids on a radio show yesterday. She was complaining about being in debt and not making enough - $1600/mo.
The host kindly explained to her that with her child tax credits, she actually gets a REFUND even though she pays NOTHING in taxes.
Couldn't help thinking of how many others were in her shoes - complaining about republicans taking their money.
Posted by lochlan
***
you sure are a niave one
I'm torn on impeachment but I fully support a mass citizen's arrest on January 20,2009. I dub this project Operation Don't Let Them Get To The Airport.
"alternative" - synonomous.... BUNDLING
The influence that lobbyists wield can%u2019t be gauged by looking at their individual contributions. Their power comes in their capacity to deliver a stack of checks to grateful lawmakers. A lawmaker knows how much he or she is indebted to a lobbyist. So, you can be sure, does the lobbyist. The only ones in the dark are the public.
House Democrats must keep this in mind: They%u2019re in power in large part because of the cozy, and in some cases corrupt, relationships their predecessors had with lobbyists. If they want to stay in power, they need to demonstrate that they are willing, finally, to do something about this.
This Web site allows you to follow the money trail of campaign bundlers %u2013 or people who funnel money to campaigns %u2013 as they collect thousands, and sometimes even millions, of dollars from other people for the 2008 presidential candidates.
http://www.whitehouseforsale.org/
they pretended to do something for their money.
Now where is that article on "special interests" lobbyis.... legislation?
How about "never"? one or two years is nothing for the chance to steal millions, and the ba*tards know it, this is just more wallpaper over the corruption...
Posted by lochlan at 11:54 PM : Jul 31, 2007
We're working on it, but it's difficult to bring down an entire crime family like the one in the White House, when they're the ones controlling the law enforcement via the Attorney General, who curiously enough Bush has nicknamed "Fredo" from the Godfather movie. Still they will get theirs someday.
GOP = Greed Over Principle
Posted by macusweil at 03:39 PM : Jul 31, 2007,,,
Too much discretionary spending available to these crooks, means taxes are too high as well, 15 percent above the poverty line across the board I work to hard for my paycheck to fork it over to Repug friends and family.
one thing, and a megauniverse. hilary is
a goldwater republican, and bill is really
bill banowsky who was president of pepperdine
university malibu, ca. those people are as
phony as a 10 trillion dollar bill. when
they were in office, my family screamed at
the tv every night. i just can't take that
again. chicago seven need to break the seven
seals and really do some decent deals
at the convention. cause this is getting
too weird. too many veervolves creep through
the land. its creepy man. i mean i love
britney spears, nazi admiral navy spears relative
who is paying off the jewish federline but
this is just tooo mucch. it's all too much.
and the billary are biting off way more than
they can chew.
Oh yeah, way to go Dems. Not.
Abercrombie-D
Barton (TX)-R
Boyd (FL)-D
Clay-D
Cleaver-D
Flake-R
Murtha-D
Tanner-D
I don't think Dumbya could handle an over-ride, so he won't veto this one. I'm sure he'd like to.
Posted by Terrapin78 at 05:08 PM : Jul 31, 2007
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I agree. The House passed the bill with 98% of the vote. If the senate can pass it with 70% or more, Bush isn't likely to veto it.
It just can't happen.
Vote the rascals out.
GOP = Greed Over Principle
Posted by macusweil at 03:39 PM : Jul 31, 2007
Yes a great start now a tax reduction is greatly needed, the problem is to much discretionary money in the tax revenues along with the GOP and come on, 35 percent is to much as a tax rate, I want the 15 percent tax rate the Equity Barons have! 32,000 ear marks, 32,000 and none for me!
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