Duckworth Challenges Roskam to Push for Ethics Reform Now
DUCKWORTH CHALLENGES ROSKAM TO PUSH FOR ETHICS REFORM NOW
Notes that Republican candidate is funded by Congressional leaders who are key to reform
Sixth District Congressional candidate Tammy Duckworth today challenged State Sen. Peter Roskam to call upon the Republican House Leaders who are backing his campaign for Congress to quickly enact new ethics and lobbying rules.
"Because of Peter Roskam's close relationship with the current leaders of the U.S. House, he has the opportunity to impress upon them the importance of enacting ethics reforms now," she said.
"The failure of this Congress to adopt such changes means that the people of the 6th district pay a price, in the form of higher deficits, higher taxes and higher costs for everything from prescription drugs to college loans," Duckworth said.
Duckworth pointed out that Roskam, the only Republican candidate for the 6th District seat, has taken campaign contributions from current House Majority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio), Majority Whip Roy Blunt (R-Missouri), and former Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas). DeLay's ethical problems caused him to resign from his leadership position, with Blunt temporarily succeeding him. Since Boehner's recent election as Majority Leader, he has expressed doubts about the need for comprehensive ethics reform.
"In addition to the criminal investigations surrounding super-lobbyist Jack Abramoff, the influence of lobbyists has led to a costly and confusing Medicare drug plan, last year's energy bill and no-bid contracts to Halliburton," Duckworth said. "It is time to rein in the vast influence of the special interest lobbyists, to ensure that the broader interests of our country are being served."
Duckworth said that she has laid out her own ethics reform plan, and challenged Roskam to do the same - saying the voters of the 6th District deserve to know that their next U.S. Representative will be committed to real reform. Among the changes Duckworth has called for are proposals to:
Lengthen the time that former members of Congress are barred from becoming lobbyists from one to two years.
Bar former members of Congress from using their access to the House floor to lobby current members.
Prohibit travel paid for or arranged by lobbyistseven if intended for so-called "educational" purposes.
End the use of "earmarks" in the Congressional budgeting and appropriations process to further reduce the influence of lobbyists.
Create a new Office of Public Integrity and an independent ethics enforcement commission to govern the behavior of lobbyists and Members of Congress and staff, as proposed by Sen. Barack Obama.
Duckworth said that members of both parties have a duty to work for such changes, and asked Roskam to join her in urging the Republican leaders who are backing him to "move lobbying reform to the front burner, rather than keeping it on ice."
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