Dreier Begins Series of Hearings on Lobbying Reform

March 2, 2006

WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman David Dreier (R-San Dimas,CA), Chairman of the House Rules Committee, began a series of hearings today in the Rules Committee on lobbying reform. Testifying before the Committee today will be The Honorable Karen Haas, Clerk of the U.S. House, The Honorable James Bacchus (D-FL), Member of Congress ‘91-‘94, Chairman, Global Trade Practice Group, Greenberg Traurig, LLP, Dr. Thomas Mann, Ph.D., Senior Fellow, The Brookings Institution, Mr. Paul Miller, President, American League of Lobbyists, Dr. Norman Ornstein, Ph.D., Resident Scholar, American Enterprise Institute, Dr. James Thurber, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor of Government and Director of the Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies, American University, and Mr. Fred Wertheimer, President, Democracy 21. Chairman Dreier’s opening statement is below.

"Good morning and welcome. Today’s hearing is the Committee’s first installment in a series of hearings on how we can change our rules to provide greater transparency and accountability for our constituents in this institution’s interaction with outside groups.

I should note that the Rules Committee has already originated one lobbying reform rule change this session. We reported out a resolution that eliminated floor and gym privileges for former members who are lobbyists. On February first, this resolution passed overwhelmingly with 379 votes. I am hopeful that our other reform efforts will enjoy such broad, bipartisan support.

This morning we will take testimony on current lobbying laws as well as ideas for lobbying reform. We want to lay everything on the table and look at this information as a Committee and as a Congress so we can move forward with reform together.

There is no doubt that recent disgraceful lobbying and ethical scandals on both sides of the aisle have created a groundswell of bipartisan support for change. When illegal and immoral actions bring shame on Congress, we have a duty to look closely at lobbying and ethics laws and determine where we can improve and strengthen them. We owe it to the American people, we owe it to this institution and we owe it to ourselves. This is not a partisan issue, it is an issue that goes to the integrity of Congress, and every member has a stake in that.

Before we begin taking testimony, I want to put our reform efforts in a historical context. Lobbying reforms have been undertaken many times by many Congresses – and it’s no wonder when you look at what was allowed years ago. When Daniel Webster was a Senator from Massachusetts in the 1830s, he was paid by and actively solicited money from one of the country’s largest banks.

In those days, members and lobbyists could be one and the same. Subsequent reforms have made such outrageous and obvious conflicts illegal. In fact, lobbying and ethics laws have been continually updated with the times. As we know well, to be committed to good governance and reform is to be committed to constantly revisiting and revamping the rules and laws that apply.

More recently, in 1989, the first President Bush worked with Congress to update government ethics laws. These changes included limiting the sources of income members could earn outside of their elected duties. The bill was introduced in the House by our colleague from Texas, Lamar Smith.

Eleven years ago, we rewrote the 1946 Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act. The Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 enhanced reporting requirements and made clearer and broader definitions for lobbying activities. But like all reforms, it was not a one-shot deal. Today, we continue the reform process. "Before we get underway, I want to make very clear that lobbying is not only an honorable profession – it’s a constitutionally protected profession. As we seek to level the playing field for constituents and lobbyists, we must protect the First Amendment right of all Americans to petition their government. As all of us up here can attest, input from constituents and advocates is essential for effective governing, so we have to strike the right balance.

I will close by saying how encouraging my recent conversations about lobbying reform have been with scores of members and outside experts, Democrats and Republicans. We all understand that with one voice, we can improve the deliberative nature of Congress. With one voice, we can improve the relationship between Congress and lobbyists. And with one voice, we can improve the stature of Congress in the eyes of the American people. "Nearly everyone I spoke with agreed it was time to take action. So in the greatest traditions of bipartisan reform, let the action – and let this hearing – begin."