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Advocacy Blog
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
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