Many members oppose the travel moratorium as well as language that would require disclosure of the name of each member who has inserted any earmark in a general appropriations bill or the report accompanying it. Other, less contentions provisions would require more disclosures from lobbyists about their interactions and gifts to members and would eliminate the pensions of members convicted of crimes related to their office.
House Rules Committee spokeswoman Jo Maney said it was still possible the travel ban and earmark language could be pulled out of the lobbying bill and voted upon as changes to House rules, thus eliminating the need to reach agreement with the Senate.
“My understanding,” an aide to another committee chairman countered, “is it is going to go as one big bill.”
Boehner wanted to ensure that members had a chance to shape the package in a range of committees through the regular legislative process. Simple rules changes would have sharply limited participation in the drafting process.