U.S. Senator Russ Feingold
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Office of Senator Russ Feingold | 202/224-5323

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When I was elected to the U.S. Senate, I brought the Wisconsin Code of Ethics for Public Officials and Employees with me to Washington. The Wisconsin Code lays down a very simple no gifts policy that my staff and I abided by in the State Senate, and continue to abide by today in the U.S. Senate.

When I began serving in the U.S. Senate, the gift rules of the United States Senate were very lenient and I’ve been fighting to reform them ever since. In 1995, I led an effort to reform the Senate gift rules to at least end the days of unlimited gifts. But I was determined to keep pushing for an all-out ban on gifts from lobbyists who were taking advantage of loopholes in the law.

Finally, in 2007, Congress passed and the president signed the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act (HLOGA), which contained a strong gift ban based on lobbying and ethics reform legislation I originally crafted. It prohibits lobbyists and organizations that employ or retain lobbyists from giving gifts to members of Congress and their staffs, including free meals and tickets.

The HLOGA also includes a ban on members paying reduced rates for the use of corporate jets. Before HLOGA, members of Congress enjoyed the luxury of being able to fly on corporate jets while only having to pay the equivalent of the cost of a commercial first class ticket. Now, senators, Senate campaigns, and presidential campaigns must reimburse for the use of corporate jets at the charter rate rather than the commercial first class rate. House members are prohibited from flying on corporate jets.

Privately funded travel is also limited under the new law. HLOGA limits privately funded travel, paid for by groups that lobby, to one-day events with minimal lobbyist involvement. Only organizations that do not employ or retain lobbyists can pay for multi-day trips. The HLOGA requires pre-approval by the Senate Ethics Committee for all privately funded Senate travel, and all travel reports are publicly disclosed on the Internet.

Gift Ban
Revolving Door

Related: Deficit Reduction - Congressional Pay Raise
Related: Campaign Finance Reform

Government Reform Main

   

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