Friday, January 05, 2007

House Adopts Lobby and Ethics Reform Package

In the first legislative act of the 110th Congress, the House adopted an initial set of "honest leadership" rules changes yesterday by a vote of 430-1. A floor vote on a second set of rules changes, covering "civility and fiscal responsibility," is expected today.

Yesterday's package of rules changes provides the following:

• Ban on Gifts from Lobbyists: House members, delegates and staff are now prohibited from accepting gifts or meals from lobbyists or private organizations that have lobbyists. Beginning March 1, House members may not participate in travel financed, planned or arranged by lobbyists or organizations that employ lobbyists. Travel financed by colleges will not be covered. And the ethics committee will write firm guidelines allowing for 'de minimis' lobbyist involvement in lawmakers’ one-day, one-night trips to visit specific sites, attend forums or participate in panel discussions or to give speeches.

• Ban on Trips Paid by Lobbyists: Trips financed by private organizations not connected with lobbying will require pre-approval from the ethics committee, and disclosure reports would have to be filed within 15 days after any travel.

• Ban on Use of Company Planes: House members may not use their office allowances, personal funds or campaign funds to pay for travel on non-commercial corporate aircraft other than charter planes.

• End of K-Street Project: House members may not use their influence to coerce a private organization to make employment decisions on the basis of political affiliation.

• Ethics Training Mandated: House employees will have to participate in annual ethics training.

Over in the Senate, Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), said he would begin by bringing up ethics legislation that passed last year when Republicans were in control. That legislation is a good deal weaker than what the House is adopting this week. Expect a difficult (but, alas, private) conference committee debate on this one.