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Shays, Meehan, Reform Community
to Oppose Weak Lobby Reform Bill
Washington, D.C. – Today, Representatives Christopher
Shays (R-CT) and Marty Meehan (D-MA), along with members of
the reform community, called for the House of Representatives
to reject H.R. 4975, the Lobbying Accountability and Transparency
Act, and to send it back to Committee to be re-written. The
lawmakers’ sentiment was echoed by the Campaign Legal
Center, Common Cause, Democracy 21, League of Women Voters,
Public Citizen and U.S. PIRG.
“This legislation hardly does anything to stop unethical
behavior by members of Congress and lobbyists. We need bold
reform to rebuild Americans’ trust in their government,
but this bill doesn’t provide anything close,”
Shays said. “Even worse, we weren't allowed to offer
amendments to significantly strengthen it. We need to reject
this bill and bring up a bill with meaningful reform which
includes increased disclosure, improved ethics process, gift
ban and and an end to phony accounting of the cost of corporate
flights. I urge the Minority Leader to exercise her right
to offer a credible Motion to Recommit that provides meaningful
reform. If it does, I intend to support it and will encourage
colleagues on my side of the aisle to do the same."
"Real lobbying reform must end the practice of corporate
lobbyists writing our laws," Meehan said. "The so-called
'Lobbying Accountability and Transparency Act' is neither
accountable nor transparent. It does nothing to address the
problems in the current lobbying system. Dressing up a series
of meaningless cosmetic changes and simply calling them 'reform'
does not make them reform. The public will not be fooled by
this charade. Members who are for true lobbying and ethics
reform must vote against this sham bill."
Shays and Meehan offered five amendments to strengthen the
bill, including:
- Create an Office of Public Integrity;
- Strengthen Lobby disclosure requirements above what this
legislation includes;
- Require disclosures of huge sums being spent by professional
lobbying firms and lobby organizations on grassroots campaign
to stimulate lobbying of Members of Congress;
- Require members to pay for charter flights they take,
rather than pay first class fare; and
- Enact a true gift ban.
All of these amendments were denied a vote by the Rules Committee
last week. The House is expected to vote on H.R. 4975 tomorrow.
Contact: Sarah Moore, 202/225-5541
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