Van Hollen Introduces Ethics and Lobbying Reform Legislation

Van Hollen Introduces Ethics and Lobbying Reform Legislation

United States Representative Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) today introduced legislation that would help ensure that the proper relationship is maintained between Members of Congress and lobbyists who advance their clients' legislative interests before Congress. Lobbyists are subject to the same legal limitations as any other individual regarding the amount of a contribution they can make to a Member's campaign. However, some lobbyists also solicit, gather and transmit the contributions of others to Members. This practice is known as "bundling." The Bundling Disclosure Act (H.R. 633) would require lobbyists to disclose this facilitation when the recipient knows that funds have been bundled, on their behalf, by a lobbyist.

"We have already made tremendous strides in the 110th Congress by passing many ethics reform measures in the first 100 hours, but our work is not done," said Congressman Van Hollen. "This bill is an important step in the direction of adding some sunlight to the activities of lobbyists who have business before Congress while at the same time providing campaign contributions, co-hosting events or collecting and transmitting the contributions of others."

Senators Russell Feingold (D-WI) and Barack Obama (D-IL) introduced similar legislation which was included in the Senate's bundling disclosure requirement and that was passed by the Senate last week by a vote of 96 to 2.

Last year, Van Hollen amended the Lobbying Disclosure Act in the Judiciary Committee to require lobbyists to disclose their bundling of funds. This amendment was adopted on a bipartisan vote of 28 to 4. Unfortunately, this bundling disclosure provision was mysteriously stripped from the bill without a vote or comment. Efforts to add the provision back into the bill in the Rules Committee or on the House floor were blocked.

"The American people spoke loudly and clearly during the last election," Congressman Van Hollen added. "They want this Congress to pass reform measures that will correct the abuses of the past. This bill will shed much needed light on the murky intersection of fundraising and the legislative process and put the public interest before the special interests."

http://vanhollen.house.gov/HoR/MD08/Newsroom/Press+Release+by+Date/2007/01-23-07+Van+Hollen+Introduces+Ethics+and+Lobbying+Reform+Legislation.htm