Letter to Senator Peter J. Roskam
April 27, 2006
State Senator Peter J. Roskam
423 W. Wesley
Wheaton, Illinois 60187
VIA FAX: (630) 221-0066
Dear Senator Roskam:
A number of months ago, I asked you to join me in supporting significant ethics reform in Congress that would reduce the influence of special interest lobbyists and prevent future scandals such as that involving super-lobbyist Jack Abramoff and his associates. As candidates for Congress, I believe it is our responsibility to speak for the voters of the 6th District who want - and deserve - ethical government that advocates on their behalf rather than on behalf of the special interests.
While you never responded directly to my invitation to lay out your ideas on lobbying reform, you indicated in a recent newspaper column that you would give your proxy on ethics reform to House Speaker Dennis Hastert, saying that you had confidence' in Hastert's ability to pass a bill to restore public trust. ("DeLay Gone, Not Forgotten in District Race," Chicago Sun-Times, April 5, 2006).
As early as today, the House will take up an ethics reform proposal designed by the House leadership and supported by Speaker Hastert. Based on news reports of that legislation's contents, I am urging you to publicly withdraw your proxy.
Among the bills most notable flaws, as it is currently written:
* Lobbyist-paid trips. Under the bill, such travel will not bannedonly suspended until December, one month after the upcoming election.
* Gift ban. The bill makes no changes to rules governing meals and other gifts from lobbyists to Members of Congress.
* Flights on corporate jets. The bill allows corporate officials to travel with lawmakers on these flights, while lawmakers will need to pay no more than the cost of a first-class commercial ticket.
* Earmarks. The bill apparently will do little to stop the funding of special projects that do not go through the normal legislative process and are costing taxpayers billions of dollars - many times for projects of questionable public value.
As you know, I have proposed reforms in all these areas, including a complete ban on lobbyist-paid travel and the elimination of all special project "earmarks." Clearly, the ethics reform offered by the House leadership falls far short of the steps necessary to curtail the influence of special interest lobbyists who control the congressional agenda to the detriment of American families and taxpayers.
Once again, I invite you to join me in supporting real reform, which will put Congress back in the hands of voters and taxpayers - where it belongs. I look forward to your response, and the specific steps you will support to rein in the power of the special interests now running roughshod on Capitol Hill. Again, in light of the deficiencies in the reform bill to be offered this week, I'm asking you to publicly withdraw the proxy you have granted to Speaker Hastert on this critical issue.
The people of the 6th District deserve a Member of Congress with an independent voice, who will end needless partisanship and advocate strongly on their behalf. That begins with taking a public stand on the deficient ethics reform legislation now before Congress.
Sincerely,
Tammy Duckworth
http://www.duckworthforcongress.com/cms/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=88&Itemid=15