Democratic Ethics Bill Would Shine Light On Pet Projects

WASHINGTON (AP) _ Lawmakers pushing pet projects would have to shed more light on stealthy spending under legislation that Congress' Democratic leaders will try to push through the House and Senate

Monday, July 30th 2007, 12:55 pm

By: News On 6

WASHINGTON (AP) _ Lawmakers pushing pet projects would have to shed more light on stealthy spending under legislation that Congress' Democratic leaders will try to push through the House and Senate this week.

The proposal, part of a package to tighten rules on lobbying, would require senators seeking ``earmarks'' in spending bills to identify themselves and their proposed projects in publicly available data bases at least 48 hours before the Senate votes on the provisions. They also would have to certify that they and their immediate family members have no financial interest in the proposed earmark.

The House made similar changes to its rules governing earmarks in January.

The legislation, if approved, would mark Congress' most far-reaching reactions to recent scandals, including those of lobbyist Jack Abramoff and former Rep. Randy ``Duke'' Cunningham, D-Calif. Both men are now in prison, having been convicted of corruption charges that in some cases involved congressional earmarks.

This proposed bill ``contains the most sweeping ethics and lobbying reforms in generations,'' Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and several colleagues said in a statement.

Democrats promised a crackdown on lobbying when they campaigned in 2006 against a ``culture of corruption'' in Congress, then controlled by Republicans. The new Democratic-controlled House and Senate quickly embraced tighter guidelines on lobbying, spending and fundraising in January. But efforts to reconcile differences and send a bill to the president bogged down in subsequent months.

Democratic leaders, eager to fulfill their campaign promise before the August recess, hope the revised package released Monday will pass both chambers this week.

The bill, among other things, would require lawmakers to disclose those lobbyists who raise $15,000 or more for them within a six-month period through a popular practice known as bundling. Bundlers solicit campaign checks from numerous people, but their efforts often go undetected under existing campaign finance disclosure laws.

Earlier versions of the bill would have required lobbyist-bundlers to disclose their contributions to federal candidates, but many lawmakers preferred to control such reports. Lobbyists would, however, have to disclose payments they make to presidential libraries, inaugural committees or organizations controlled by or named for members of Congress.

Regarding earmarks, the Senate majority leader would rule on whether the disclosure requirements have been met, a possible point of contention with some Republicans. Failure to meet the requirements would subject the proposed item to a challenge that could be overcome with a 60-vote majority in the 100-member chamber.

The new bill also would:

_ Prohibit lobbyist and their clients from giving gifts, including meals and tickets, to senators and their staffs. The House adopted a gift ban in January.

_ Require senators and candidates for the Senate or White House to pay charter rates for trips on private planes. House candidates would be barred from accepting trips on private planes.

_ Bar lawmakers from attending large parties given in their honor by lobbyists at national political conventions.

_ Bar lawmakers and their aides from trying to influence hiring decisions by lobbying firms and others in exchange for political access.

_ Require former senators and top aides to wait two years before lobbying Congress. Ex-House members would have a one-year ``cooling off.'' lobbying disclosure rules.

_ Deny retirement benefits to members of Congress convicted of bribery, perjury or similar crimes.