Posted July 27, 2006 by CLC Staff

Real Lobbying Reform v. Toothless "Lobbying Reform”

The recently introduced Ethics and Lobbying Reform Act of 2006 (H.R. 5677), offers a set of needed reforms that would begin to address some of the most egregious ethics and lobbying abuses that have sadly become a part of doing business on Capitol Hill.  The new bill introduced by Representatives Christopher Shays (R-CT) and Marty Meehan (D-MA) stands out in stark contrast to the toothless “lobbying reform” bills passed by the House (H.R. 4975) and Senate (S. 2349) in seemingly cynical efforts to placate disgruntled voters in an election year.  The Campaign Legal Center has created a detailed table comparing the new lobbying reform proposal in the House to current law and the sham “lobbying reform” bills passed earlier this year in an attempt to avoid voter backlash.