Tucson lawmaker calls for even stronger reforms
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords today praised passage of the Honest Leadership, Open Government Act of 2007, the most sweeping congressional lobbying reform in a generation.
“Today Congress took a big step in the right direction,” said Giffords. “This legislation moves Washington further away from lobbyists and special interests. A new way of conducting the people’s business has begun. It is more open, honest and transparent.”
The act overwhelmingly passed the House this morning in a 411-8 vote. It codifies many of the ethics reforms that were adopted as House rules at the beginning of the 110th Congress. Reform groups such as Common Cause, Democracy 21 and Public Citizen are calling the act landmark legislation that marks a sea change in government accountability.
The act’s significant provisions include:
- Denial of taxpayer-funded pension benefits to lawmakers convicted of corruption while serving in Congress;
- A ban on lawmakers attending national political convention parties held in their honor and paid for by lobbyists or their clients;
- A requirement that lobbyists disclose contributions to charities or events honoring lawmakers and contributions intended to pay for the cost of a meeting or a retreat;
- A requirement that lawmakers disclose job negotiations for post-Congressional employment; and
- Establishment of an online, searchable database of lawmakers’ travel and personal financial disclosure forms.
Giffords is a strong supporter of lobbying and ethics reform. Her first official act as a member of Congress was to vote for an aggressively overhauling of House ethics rules.
“My constituents in Southeastern Arizona sent me to Congress to solve problems and change the way Congress operates,” said Giffords. “I am doing that and the bill we passed today is a perfect example of the dramatic changes under way.”
The Tucson lawmaker also is a cosponsor of the House Ethics Commission Establishment Act, which has not come to the floor for a vote. “I am disappointed House Leadership has not acted on the creation of an independent ethics panel,” the Tucson lawmaker said.