Today’s votes on lobby reform take another important step toward reining in
the corruption that plagued the last Congress.
The adoption of a wide
range of disclosure measures will increase the transparency of the actions of
Washington lobbyists. Especially important is the approval of the Van Hollen
bundling amendment requiring that lobbyists who raise funds for lawmakers
disclose their fundraising activities. It’s helpful under current law to know
who is giving $200 or $2000. But if you want to know who the real money people
are in Washington, you have to know who is raising hundreds of thousands for
candidates and campaigns -- these are the people that are building special
access through campaign contributions.
Among other significant
provisions, the bill also cracks down on those in Congress who might use their
insider status to unfairly leverage a job in the private sector at the expense
of the public. This was the case with former Rep. Billy Tauzin who was
negotiating Medicare’s prescription drug plan while simultaneously negotiating a
job with PhARMA. It is little wonder that the program has more benefits for
industry than the public.
While U.S. PIRG applauds today’s vote, the
work is not yet done. Members still need to work out differences with the
Senate. Whether or not Congress lives up to the promise to clean up Washington
will be determined by what comes out of conference and is finally
passed.
