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For Immediate Release
June 14, 2006 |
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Shays, Meehan Introduce
Alternative Package of Ethics Reforms
Washington, D.C. – As the Conference Committee on lobbying
reform sits in stalemate, Representatives Christopher Shays
(R-CT) and Marty Meehan (D-MA) are working to provide new
momentum to strengthen ethics rules on Capitol Hill. They
introduced a comprehensive reform package, the Ethics and
Lobbying Reform Act, which compiles seven reform proposals
-- many of which Shays and Meehan have introduced over the
past seven months – that would strengthen the ethics
process, improve lobbying disclosure, end gift-giving on Capitol
Hill and institute reasonable travel reforms.
With Senators John McCain and Russ Feingold, they also wrote
the House leadership and Senate lobbying reform bill Conferees,
asking the Conference Committee to pass a reform package that
truly provides greater transparency in government, highlighting
the need for enhanced enforcement measures through the creation
of an Office of Public Integrity and the need to address the
use of corporate aircraft by Members of Congress.
Separately, Shays and Meehan also dropped the Federal Elections
Administration Act which eliminates the FEC and replaces it
with a three member Commission with Commissioners all from
different parties.
“While the lobbying reform Conference Committee sits
in a stand-off over two weak alternatives that will produce
fatally flawed legislation, we are offering what reform groups
consider the 'gold standard',” Shays explained. “This
common-sense package will help begin the process of regaining
public trust in government."
The Ethics and Lobbying Reform Act:
- Creates an Office of Public Integrity to help enforce
congressional ethics rules and lobbying disclosure laws
(H.R.
4799 was introduced by Shays and Meehan in
March);
- Requires lobbyists to disclose the campaign funds and
financial benefits they provide to assist Members (from
H.R. 4575, the Shays/McCain Lobbying
Transparency and Accountability Act and the
Senate-passed bill);
- Requires disclosure of the amounts spent by professional
lobbying firms and lobbying groups on campaigns to generate
lobbying of Congress by the public (from H.R. 4575, the
Shays/McCain Lobbying
Transparency and Accountability Act and the
Senate-passed bill);
- Requires Members to pay charter rates, not reduced fares,
for the use of company planes made available by corporations
for travel by Members (from H.R. 4575, the Shays/McCain
Lobbying
Transparency and Accountability Act)
- Bans gifts to Members;
- Increases the current restrictions on former Members
and senior staff lobbying the Congress from one year to
two years (from H.R. 4575, the Shays/McCain Lobbying
Transparency and Accountability Act); and
- Prohibits private interests that lobby Congress from
paying for trips by Members.
Contact: Sarah Moore, 202/225-5541
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