CHICAGO, IL—Statement of Congressmen Marty Meehan (D-MA) and Rahm Emanuel (D-IL) and Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI), original cosponsors of  lobbying reform legislation introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on May 17, 2005 (H.R. 2412) and in the U.S. Senate on July 14, 2005 (S. 1398): 

“An ethics cloud hangs over Congress.  In part this is due to the recent revelations of the corruption and influence peddling associated with Jack Abramoff.  But that case is just the most high-profile example of the problems that have arisen in recent years – problems epitomized by the notorious ‘K Street Project’ and pay-to-play practices that pervade the Capitol.

“Public approval of Congress has never been lower.  We face an institutional problem requiring an institutional solution.   Just as we addressed the corrupting influence of soft money contributions with new campaign finance rules, we must address corrupting relationships between lobbyists and members of Congress with reforms to the lobbying disclosure and congressional gift rules. 

“The last time Congress dealt with the issues of lobbying and gifts was a decade ago, in 1995.  Since then, the lobbying industry has grown exponentially, new strategies for evading restrictions have emerged, and the laws and ethics rules have failed to keep pace.  Last summer, we introduced comprehensive bills in both the House and the Senate to address the very problems that Jack Abramoff has come to represent.  Our bills reform the relationship between Congress and K Street in four central ways: enhancing disclosure, curbing privately funded junkets by members of Congress, slowing the ‘revolving door’ between government service and lobbying, and putting real teeth in how the rules are enforced.  

“We look forward to working with our colleagues on both sides of the aisle in both the House and Senate to develop and pass the strongest possible lobbying reform legislation.  Only by acting quickly and decisively can Congress demonstrate to the American people that we understand the damage done by the Abramoff scandal and that we will not allow that culture to continue.”