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Advocacy Blog
Monday, November 13, 2006
Pelosi: "Honest Leadership and Open Government"
It has been reported that it may be more likely in the upcoming 110th Congress for changes in lobbying and ethics rules. According to BNA (subscription required) on November 9, six reform groups, the Campaign Legal Center, Common Cause, Democracy 21, League of Women Voters, Public Citizen, and U.S. PIRG held a press conference commending Pelosi's promise to quickly take up ethics and lobbying reforms. Exit polls reveal that scandals were a major issue in the election, opening up opportunity to bring up such legislation. These reform groups are also calling for the creation of a group of outside legal experts that would investigate allegations of wrongdoing by lawmakers and their employees.
The Democratic agenda would ban gifts and travel paid for by lobbyists; double, to two years, the time in which lawmakers and senior officials are barred from lobbying their former offices; force lobbyists to disclose more of their activities; and shut down efforts like the Republican "K Street Project" — a forced alliance with lobbying firms, named for the Washington street that is home to many lobbying offices.
Posted by Amanda Adams
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