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Lobbying and Ethics
Reform Blog
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
House Vote on Ethics and Lobbying Reform Bill Set for Thursday
On Thursday May 24, the House of Representatives is expected to vote on The Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007 (H.R. 2316). This vote reflects the leadership's pledge to pass fundamental ethics and lobbying reform. The legislation contains several important reforms that represent progress in making the government more accountable and transparent to the electorate.
- Requires electronic disclosure and public access on a searchable website
- Mandates lobbyists to report their interactions with Members faster, and more comprehensively. Reports would be filed quarterly instead of every six months.
- Addresses other ethics issues, such as a prohibition on members attempting to influence employment decisions by private employers for partisan reasons.
- A certification by registered lobbyists that they have not violated Congressional rules on gifts and travel.
- Increased penalties for "knowing and corrupting" violations of the rules.
While OMB WATCH supports passage of this bill, there are several limitations to the legislation reported by the Judiciary Committee. In particular,
- Retreat on the revolving door provision. The Judiciary Committee stripped out a provision in the leadership's bill that would have increased the 'cooling off' period for former members of Congress and senior staff before lobbying their colleagues from one to two years.
- Failure to include disclosure of big money grassroots lobbying campaigns
- Altered provision on employment negotiations for members of Congress that keeps information from the public.
For more information on H.R 2316, see our Lobbying Reform and Government Ethics Resource Center
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