Statement of WISPIRG Democracy Advocate Gary Kalman
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.
WISPIRG applauds Wisconsin’s entire Congressional delegation for supporting this important legislation.
While
WISPIRG 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.
WISPIRG
is a statewide non-profit, non-partisan public interest advocacy
organization. Kalman is WISPIRG’s Democracy Advocate based in DC.
