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Tuesday, January 31, 2006

For Wed: Dreier Bill Restricting Former Member Access to Floor, Gym
The House on Wednesday will vote on a measure that would revoke the floor and gymnasium privileges of former members who are registered lobbyists.

The resolution (H Res 648), approved in the Rules Committee by voice vote Tuesday, would also bar from the gym the lobbyist-spouses of current and former members.

House Rules Chairman David Dreier, R-Calif., called the measure “a first step toward our package of reforms” aimed at overhauling the way lobbyists and members do business. Dreier is expected to introduce a sweeping lobbying overhaul bill as early as Wednesday as Republicans scramble to respond to a widening lobbying scandal in Congress.

Current House rules already bar former members from the chamber if they are lobbying a bill pending before Congress or any committee. There is no official enforcement mechanism, however. The rules say that members are supposed to tell the sergeant at arms if they spot an ex-member lobbying a bill on the House floor. The new rule contains no new provisions for enforcement, but Dreier said Tuesday he planned to take up enforcement issues in subsequent measures.

The committee rejected a request by Rep. Vic Snyder, D-Ark., to add language to the resolution that would have revoked all former-member privileges, including access to the members’ dining room and parking spaces, for ex-lawmakers while they are registered lobbyists.

Posted by Jennifer Lowe, 03:53:14 PM

Shelby Says Expect a Vote on GSE Bill Later In the Session
From CQ:

On legislation overhauling regulation of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the mortgage finance giants, Shelby voiced optimism that the bill (S 190) that his panel approved on a party-line vote last July would receive a Senate floor vote this year.

“Later in the session we will be in a position to pass the bill,” Shelby said.

The bill, which would create a new regulator for the government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs), has been stalled since the committee vote by differences on whether to restrict the companies’ massive investment portfolios. Shelby and most panel Republicans favor putting limits on the portfolios, which critics say increase risk in the financial markets. Others, including many Democrats, say portfolio limits would hurt the companies’ ability to carry out their mission to increase affordable housing.

Shelby said Tuesday that the portfolio debate was still a “big issue,” and declined to say whether he would be willing to compromise with Democrats to move a bill this year.

“Rest assured, we’re going to move a bill this year,” Shelby said.

For more on anti-advocacyprovisions in the GSE bill.

Posted by Jennifer Lowe, 02:18:56 PM

Thursday, January 12, 2006

GOP Considers Ban on Privately Funded Travel
Check out this New York Times article on the possible banning of privately funded travel. This could have impacts for nonprofits, which we discuss more extensively in our Watcher article on the new lobby reform bills before Congress.

Posted by Jennifer Lowe, 11:51:09 AM

Wednesday, January 11, 2006

Online Information on Lobbying, Ethics Reform Bills in Congress
Bob Bauer's blog (More Soft Money HardLaw) has a very useful resource page with links to the pending lobby and ethics reform bills in Congress, and related Congressional floor statements and press releases.

To access this resource page click here

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