Statement of U.S. PIRG 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.
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.
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U.S. PIRG is the federation of state Public Interest
Research Groups. State PIRGs are non-profit, non-partisan public interest
advocacy organizations.
