Democrats Reject Issa Amendment to Close Lobbying Loopholes

Press Release

Democrats Reject Issa Amendment to Close Lobbying Loopholes

The Democrat Majority on the House Rules Committee, last night, rejected an amendment offered by Rep. Darrell Issa to close a loophole that allows lobbyists for state and local governments and tribes to provide Members of Congress and their staff with gifts. The House Rules Committee rejected Rep. Issa's amendment to H.R. 2316, the "Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007" on a party line 4-7 vote.

"Local and State governments ask Members to request many of the largest and most expensive earmarks like the ‘bridge to nowhere' every fiscal year," said Rep. Issa. "Even if these projects have merit, making these requests doesn't require that local tax dollars be used to purchase meals and other gifts for Members."

Under current rules, public universities may offer expensive sports tickets and other gifts to Members of Congress while private universities may not. Local and State governments, including institutions like public universities, currently have no specific restrictions on gifts that can be offered to Members of Congress and their staffs. Current rules have also not closed the "Jack Abramoff loophole" whereby lobbyists for private interests can wine and dine Members of Congress on the tab of their state and local government clients.

Last year, then Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi wrote to Speaker Dennis Hastert on the issue of lobby reform. Her letter, dated April 21, 2006, stated in part, "The House of Representatives is supposed to be a marketplace of ideas, and any debate on open government must not restrict the discussion of serious proposals…I am calling on you to you use your authority as Speaker to direct the Rules Committee to report an unrestricted rule on lobby reform." Nonetheless, the Democrats last night rejected 43 out of 48 amendments offered by Members for consideration by the full House of Representatives.

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