Issues
Government Reform Lobbying Reform
I
believe that money and special interests play too large of
a role in Washington. The lobbying industry is growing at
a startling rate and current laws have proven inadequate to
keep up with this evolving industry and to give the public
the information it needs to understand the influence that
is brought to bear on executive branch policy and legislation.
I supported the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995, which makes
it possible for the public to know who is lobbying the Congress
and how much they are spending. I keep a close eye on the
functioning of that law, and worked to stop proposed changes
that would have weakened it. After ten years, it is clear
that further reforms are needed.
In July of 2005 I introduced S.1398,
The Lobbying and Ethics Reform Act. This bill aims to curb
the excesses in privately funded trips for Members of Congress
and their staffs and completely bans gifts from lobbyists.
It also strengthens the curent disclosure rules that govern
lobbying and tightens restrictions on the so-called "revolving
door" between public service and private lobbying employment.
Read my Congressional
Record statment from the floor of the US Senate on the Lobbying
and Ethics Reform Act.
Gift
Ban
Revolving
Door
Lobbying
Reform
Related: Deficit
Reduction - Congressional Pay Raise
Related: Campaign
Finance Reform
Government
Reform Main
|
