Providing for Earmarking Reform in the House of Representatives
ROVIDING FOR EARMARKING REFORM IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES -- (House of Representatives - September 14, 2006)
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Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend from New York for yielding me time.
Mr. Speaker, the American people are demanding real reform of Congress. This bill isn't it.
The second session of the 109th Congress began with Members on both sides of the aisle deeply concerned that the dignity of this great institution had been tarnished. Newspapers across the country ran stories almost every day about the illegal practices of well-connected lobbyists. Stories discussed the ways in which unethical conduct had become the cost of doing business in Congress.
We read about the K Street Project. We read about legislation written in secret by lobbyists and about back-room deals to benefit narrow special interests. Editorial boards from all 50 States called for reform.
In May, the House passed a fundamentally flawed approach to reform. It included some new restrictions on lobbyists, yes, but we showed no willingness to demand reform of ourselves. That sent a terrible message to our constituents.
There is a better approach. I have joined many of my colleagues as a cosponsor of the Honest Leadership Open Government Act. It injects transparency and accountability into Congress itself. There would be no more K Street Project. There would be no more meals or gifts from lobbyists. No more travel on corporate jets. And it would ensure better legislation. Members would be guaranteed 24 hours to read a bill before voting on it. And we would end the common practice of last-minute provisions slipped into conference reports.
The majority is interested in none of this. The legislation was rejected in May along party lines. And since then, the House has not shown any interest in moving ahead with any meaningful reform.
So here we are in the waning days of the 109th Congress debating only a narrow earmark reform resolution full of exceptions and unlikely to pass.
Every Member of this House knows that this bill is not what the American people demanded of us at the beginning of the year. Certainly, this resolution will not restore the integrity of the institution in which we serve.
Mr. Speaker, the American people want real reform. They will not be fooled by fig leaves.
We still have time to act in a unified fashion to restore the dignity of this House. Unfortunately, this resolution falls far short of that necessary effort.
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