Providing For Consideration Of H.R. 2317, Lobbying Transparency Act Of 2007 And Providing For Consideratin Of H.R. 2316, Honest Leadership And Open Go

Floor Speech

PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 2317, LOBBYING TRANSPARENCY ACT OF 2007 AND PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 2316, HONEST LEADERSHIP AND OPEN GOVERNMENT ACT OF 2007 -- (House of Representatives - May 24, 2007)

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Mr. DOGGETT. Mr. Speaker, for over five years I have attempted to close a gaping loophole in the Lobby Disclosure Act that has permitted various lobbyists to form over 800 stealth or hidden coalitions to avoid the requirements of the act. That effort had been met with nothing but indifference. Finally we now have a new Congress and a new direction.

Under the legislation Mr. Conyers offers today, we incorporate the provisions of that Stealth Lobbyist Disclosure Act. Here is how it works: A lobbyist for an unpopular cause, like those who would avoid their taxes by renouncing their American citizenship and moving abroad, or by those who would deny climate change, instead of indicating who they actually represent, those lobbyists claim they represent a ``coalition'' of two or more individuals and avoid any indication of the true parties in interest.

When deep-pocketed interests spend big money to influence public policy, the public has a right to know. Even a little light can do a lot of good. If wealthy interests want legislators to sing their tune, the public has a right to know who is paying the piper.

Of course, President Harry Truman said, ``The buck stops here.'' But with stealth lobbying we don't know where ``here'' is or whose buck it is.

This stealth lobbyist disclosure provision helps close this loophole. The bill amends the definition of ``client'' to require the disclosure of the members of a coalition or association so that a small number of people or corporations can no longer operate under a shell group and destroy the intent of our lobby disclosure laws. Combining ``wealth'' with ``stealth'' is a recipe for unaccountable government.

After years of indifference, we have a new Congress dedicated to open government and the pursuit of the public interest. This rule and this legislation should be approved.

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