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Advocacy Blog
Friday, May 19, 2006
House to Name Lobby Reform Conferees Soon
From Congress Daily PM: If the House names its conferees for the lobbying and ethics overhaul next week, Judiciary Chairman Sensenbrenner will not be one of them. While most of the overhaul package falls under the Judiciary Committee's purview, Sensenbrenner was one of 20 Republicans who voted against the package that passed the House, 217-213, as well as the rule that brought the bill to the floor. Generally, members who vote against a bill do not get tapped to negotiate it in conference. Sensenbrenner was dissatisfied with the bill for a number of reasons, according to GOP aides, including the last-minute removal of two provisions approved by his panel that would have required lobbyists to detail their lobbying contracts and to disclose when they engage in fundraising and campaign activity. While his "no" vote will keep him off the conference, aides also noted that Sensenbrenner has his plate full with higher priority legislation such as the immigration bill and an overhaul of telecommunications laws. Another member of the Judiciary Committee is expected to serve on the conference, but so far Rules Chairman Dreier is the only confirmed House conferee. While House Speaker Hastert said recently he would like a conference agreement before the Memorial Day recess, that deadline is no longer realistic. Majority Leader Boehner told reporters Thursday that naming conferees has been delayed due to "things like trying to get a budget passed, trying to get appropriation bills out," adding that "a lot of groundwork" was needed to reconcile the many differences between the House and Senate bills. "I'm hopeful that we will soon," he said.
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