The Need for Real Reform of Lobbying and Congressional Practices

THE NEED FOR REAL REFORM OF LOBBYING AND CONGRESSIONAL PRACTICES -- HON. DORIS O. MATSUI (Extensions of Remarks - April 27, 2006)

* Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, the American people have lost faith in Congress--as seen in the dismal 30 percent approval ratings. It demonstrates that our fellow citizens believe Congress no longer keeps their interests at the forefront of its mind. Instead, they've learned that special interests get the first, and sometimes the only say, in this House.

* They read in the paper about how some Members pay coach fares, but fly in luxurious corporate jets.

* They've read reports about a Member who opened up defense contracts to the highest briber. And were only caught because a few, intrepid local reporters were better policemen than the gridlocked House Ethics Committee.

* Because they know their elected representatives are often forced to vote on legislation that hasn't been available long enough to read.

* What if, after someone signed papers on a new home, the bank inserted an extra page of regulations into the agreement? And the bank then claimed that the new homeowner's signature was proof they agreed to it? That person would be outraged, and justifiably so.

* But last December, during consideration of the fiscal year 2006 defense appropriations conference report, 40 pages of text were inserted into the agreement after conferees had signed it. This text gave inappropriate immunity to makers of avian flu vaccines. It was done, quite literally, in the middle of the night. Sadly, there was no outrage from my colleagues on the other side of the aisle. It was business as usual under this House leadership.

* Yet I must report with deep regret that the bill before us does nothing to address these issues. At best, the Majority's proposal only papers over the deep divide between Republicans and most Americans on how Congress should conduct itself.

* In the Rules Committee, I offered an amendment to allow Members 24 hours to read legislation before a floor vote on it. It would seem like exactly the kind of approach that our constituents want. But, the Majority rejected in Committee mark-up in addition to blocking it from coming to the floor for debate.

* I also offered an amendment that would require a public vote by conferees on all conference agreements, Again, my amendment goes to the real abuses that our constituents are concerned about. But again, the Majority rejected it.

* It is perhaps the ultimate irony--and the highest level of hypocrisy--that the House is debating a bill intended to increase transparency under a restrictive rule. Democrats have consistently identified abuses of power in how this Congress conducts business. And now we see those same abuses being used to prevent true reform from even being debated in public.

* Mr. Speaker, the American people have reached their limit with the conduct of this House. Soon, they may take their ball and bat and go home. They'll tune us out forever. Click off C-SPAN. Walk away, disgusted by the very process that is supposed to represent them. We must enact real reform before its too late--reform that raises the bar on both lobbyists and Members. That is not this bill, and it cannot be this bill under the straightjacket laid down in this rule. I urge my colleagues to reject this rule, reject this bill and start over.

http://thomas.loc.gov./