Thursday, July 26, 2007

Replacement Lobbying and Ethics Bill Underway; Could A Bill Be Complete Before the Recess?

CQ ($$) reports that the long overdue lobbying and ethics bill could clear Congress before the August recess begins. Staff has been working on an identical measure to be voted in both the House and Senate to replace the passed S.1 and H.R. 2316. In his fight to ensure that earmark language is included, Senate Jim DeMint (R-SC) has reportedly promised to filibuster any legislation that does not contain the precise earmark language in the original Senate bill passed in January. Hopefully though he will be outnumbered and enough members will want to complete a lobbying and ethics package before the recess to avoid bad publicity. DeMint and nine other Republican senators wrote a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) warning that any new version of legislation brought to the Senate should not be changed from S.1. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has predicted that the bill will probably pass without going to conference.

In efforts to get a final bill passed, Democratic leaders continue to work on language that would require lobbyists to detail their "bundling" of campaign donations. The original lobbying provision amended the Lobbying Disclosure Act (LDA), while a new approach that is being considered would amend campaign finance law, requiring disclosure also by bundlers who are not lobbyists.

BNA Money and Politics ($$) reported that a approach "to beef up bundling disclosure under FECA and drop the LDA bundling-disclosure requirement could get the measure back on track by addressing reformers' demands for greater transparency about influence-peddling while also responding to lobbyists' objections about being singled out under rules that would not apply to other types of political contributors. . . . Representatives of reform groups, on the other hand, want to make sure that any bundling disclosure system will reveal the activities of lobbyists, even if it also includes bundling by non-lobbyists."

Meanwhile, considering the "revolving door" provision, Democrats may go ahead with allowing each chamber to have different rules. The Senate would set a two-year lobbying ban on former senators becoming lobbyists, while the House would leave its one-year lobby ban. The House is expected to consider its replacement bill first next week with Democratic leaders limiting amendments for quick passage, and then the Senate would then take up identical legislation. See this article on the topic from the latest Watcher.