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Thursday, July 28, 2005

Hastert Tells Ethics Cmte: We Need New Rules
On a related note, House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL) yesterday called on the ethics committee to create new rules governing lawmakers’ privately funded travel.

The Speaker made his request in a letter to Chairman Doc Hastings (R-Wash.) and Rep. Alan Mollohan (W.Va.), the ranking Democrat. Hastert asked Hastings and his staff to update the ethics rules in light of the recent uproar involving members’ faulty reporting and trips paid for by private interests, several of them to luxury golfing resorts.

Hastert urged Hastings and Mollohan to make the changes using increased funds that were allocated to the committee in April.

Bob Ney (R-OH) recently mandated members to file travel-disclosure forms electronically in 2006. He authorized Clerk of the House Jeff Trandahl to develop a system that would only accept electronically filed disclosure forms. Ney explained that the new system would cut back on paperwork and make those records more transparent and readily accessible to the public.

Posted by Jennifer Lowe, 11:22:01 AM

Public Citizen Says Lawmakers to Lobbyist Increasing Trend
Almost half of the former members of Congress who looked for new jobs after leaving office since the early 1990s have become lobbyists, according to a report released July 27 by the watchdog group Public Citizen.

The report pointed out that 43 percent of members of Congress who left office since 1998 and were eligible to lobby have become lobbyists. Public Citizen suggested that this represented an increasing trend toward lawmakers using Congress as "a way station" on the path to the lucrative lobbying industry.

For more information, visit their new website, www.lobbyinginfo.org

Posted by Jennifer Lowe, 10:48:13 AM

Wednesday, July 27, 2005

IRS Bulletin: Nonprofits Can Lobby on Judicial Nominees
The Internal Revenue Service has issued a bulletin clarifying the rights of different types of nonprofits to lobby on judicial nominees.

The bulletin states, in part:
"501(c)(3) charitable, etc., organizations. Limited lobbying to influence Senate confirmation of judicial appointments is permitted. Attempts to influence Senate confirmation of a federal judicial appointment are not considered campaign intervention, which is specifically forbidden by section 501(c)(3). However, because attempts to influence Senate confirmation are considered lobbying, they are subject to the rules on lobbying: Section 501(c)(3) organizations may engage in lobbying in furtherance of their exempt purposes. The lobbying may not be a substantial part of the organization’s activities."

Monday, July 18, 2005

Feingold Introduces Lobbying Bill
Sen. Russell Feingold, D-Wis., entered the debate Thursday over lobbying overhaul and ethics by introducing a bill that would require increased lobbying disclosure, further tighten restrictions on lobbyist-financed member travel and place more limits on members and staff leaving government to lobby.

"Recent campaign finance reforms are helping, but with reports of members of Congress taking corporate jets with lobbyists on board to fly to fundraisers and going on lobbyist-funded golf junkets, it is clear that more work needs to be done," Feingold said.

The measure is similar to a bill by Reps. Martin Meehan, D-Mass., and Rahm Emanuel, D-Ill.

According to a Feingold bill summary, the measure would require the establishment of a searchable electronic database and would require lobbyists to file quarterly reports, provide a detailed account of contacts with members of Congress and report spending for grassroots lobbying.

The bill places prohibitions against lobbying-financed travel for members. It also would impose a two-year lobbying moratorium for executive and legislative branch employees, including a ban on former members of Congress from supervising a lobbying effort.

Posted by Jennifer Lowe, 09:50:44 AM

Thursday, July 14, 2005

More on E-Filing Lobbying Registration
Washington lobbyists soon will receive official notice that they must start next year to file their disclosure reports electronically, rather than on paper, according to an official in the Office of the Clerk of the House. Deputy Clerk Jerry Vans told attendees at a Capitol Hill briefing for lobbyists that notices regarding electronic filing would go out by the end of the month to current filers under the Lobbying Disclosure Act. The move follows up on a June 27 directive from Rep. Bob Ney (R-Ohio), chairman of the House Administration Committee, calling for mandatory electronic filing.

"We hope this will make your work easier," Vans told the July 12 briefing, attended by about 50 lobbyists. It was one of a series of such sessions sponsored by the House Clerk's Office to discuss the new electronic filing requirements.

The LDA, which requires registration and periodic financial reports from those conducting paid lobbying, is 10 years old. The new electronic filing requirement, however, came suddenly last month, without prior notice, and has raised questions among some in the lobbying community about how they will comply.

For example, lobbyists at the latest briefing were told by Vans and other officials from the House Clerk's office that they will have to have specified computer hardware and software to file their LDA reports online. Also, the House electronic filing system is not compatible with a voluntary electronic filing system in use for five years by the Secretary of the Senate, officials acknowledged.

Posted by Jennifer Lowe, 04:11:18 PM

Tuesday, July 12, 2005

Nonprofits File Amicus in Legal Services Case
A host of nonprofits have filed a friend of the court brief supporting legal service programs’ right to use private funds without government restrictions in a constitutional challenge currently under consideration in the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. The amicus brief argues that a requirement of separate facilities for separately funded activities is unduly burdensome and unnecessary.

In December 2004 the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York struck down application of a 1996 rule imposing restrictions on Legal Services Corporation (LSC) funds on private funding of legal aid groups. The judge denied the plaintiffs' challenge to the restrictions on direct LSC funding.

New Study on Congress and Advocacy
WASHINGTON - July 11 - Online communications tools have contributed to a surge in new communications to Congress -- 200 million in 2004, up from 50 million in 1995 -- according to a new study by the Congressional Management Foundation (CMF). Of those 200 million messages sent to Congress last year by the public, 91 percent, or 182 million, were sent online, while only 9 percent, or 18 million, were sent by postal mail. Despite the increase in communications, the report's survey research of House and Senate staff show they believe that the Internet and e-mail have had a positive effect on the democratic process. For example, 79 percent believe the Internet has made it easier for a citizen to get involved in the public policy process; 55 percent believe it has increased public understand of what goes on in Washington; while 48 percent (a plurality) believe it has made Members more responsive to their constituents.

Check out the report!

Click here for more...

Posted by Jennifer Lowe, 10:48:59 AM

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