Fitzpatrick Introduces Sweeping Ethics Reform Legislation

Fitzpatrick Introduces Sweeping Ethics Reform Legislation
Bill Makes Necessary Reform to Limit Corruption, Influence in Washington

Washington, Feb 2 - On Tuesday, Congressman Fitzpatrick introduced legislation to reform congressional ethics and lobbying rules. The legislation will make important changes in lobbying disclosure, gift and travel reimbursements and employment rules. Upon introducing his legislation, Fitzpatrick made the following comment:

"I have been in Washington for just one year, but that is all it has taken to see that there are enough loopholes in our existing ethics rules to make them irrelevant. Lobbyists have an amazing amount of influence on our democratic process. While that influence is necessary for the operation of our government it can, at times, be taken to extremes. That is why I am calling for stricter disclosure regulations for lobbyists, making their expenditures both public and easily accessible through the Internet. Grass roots organizations who lobby will also be required to register as lobbyists, held under the same reporting requirements that their colleagues are.

My legislation also deals with the revolving door that exists between the government and the lobbying world. My bill extends the "cooling off" period that restricts former Member of Congress and their senior staff from leaving office and lobbying their former colleagues from one year to two.

In order to address the serious issues of out of control federal spending and the influence special interests have on the appropriations process, my legislation takes strides to identify Member-specific spending in appropriations bills, known as earmarks. These requests are made directly by one Member for a specific spending request, generally at the behest of a lobbying or activist group. My legislation will require that the names of Members submitting these earmarks are published in the bill and that any conference report be published online for public review 72 hours before a vote on that legislation. This requirement will create much needed transparency in the appropriations process - one of the most important roles Congress, especially the House, carries out. No longer will Members be able to place anonymous project requests that spend taxpayer money for the whims of special interests.

Finally, this bill makes important reforms to gift and travel requirements. My legislation seeks to end privately funded travel by Members. Privately funded travel, whether by lobbyists or outside organizations, is much less impartial than official travel and is generally designed to fit within a particular lobbying campaign. My legislation will end this practice by banning privately funded travel by Members and their staffs."

http://fitzpatrick.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=39110