Ethics and Lobbying ReformLegal Center works to ensure that federal officials comply with the rules and standards governing ethical conduct. The Legal Center assembled and leads the Congressional Ethics Coalition, an ideologically diverse group of the nation's leading government reform organizations that work for meaningful reform of congressional ethics rules. CLC Blog Update: Cases of Interest It is a busy time in campaign finance and election law, with a growing number of cases on court dockets around the country, particularly those challenging existing campaign finance laws. With all the new developments, it seemed a particularly good time to update our “Cases of Interest,” providing a brief summary of pertinent cases and the Campaign Legal Center’s involvement. A "Wynning Hand" for the Revolving Door Rep. Al Wynn’s situation highlights the limitations of a measure in the Honest Government and Open Leadership Act (HLOGA) that was intended to bring transparency to Members’ recurrent search for lucrative post-congressional employment. Methinks Thou Dost Protest Too Much? At least some of the lessons in Eliot Spitzer's sudden political demise seem to have been lost on many in Congress. Despite the inability of many politicans to admit it, they suffer the same human failings as the rest of us which is why ethics reforms always face an uphill battle on Capitol Hill. NAM Sues to Keep Public In the Dark In the wake of the Jack Abramoff scandal rarely did one hear the argument that lobbyists should operate in greater secrecy or with less accountability. Yet this is precisely the position asserted by the National Association of Manufacturers in its lawsuit challenging Section 207 of the recently-enacted Honest Leadership and Open Government Act. Fear of the Paper Tiger The last-minute maneuvering and latest vote postponement on the proposal to create an Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE) reveals that there remains a large contingent in each party on Capitol Hill that has no interest in strengthening ethics enforcement. Bad-Mouthing Aside, Ethics Law Is a Step Forward The misinformation campaign directed at the new lobbying and ethics reforms began before the ink had even dried on the surprisingly strong law. The anonymous quotes from lobbyists who “asked not to be identified” came fast and furious. Unfortunately, distortions of the law have now spread to the presidential campaign. Why Subpoena Power Is Key to Real Ethics Reform As he reminds everyone who asks, it was not an enviable task Rep. Mike Capuano undertook heading up the House ethics task force, but all indications are that he has come up well shy of the mark. Ensign’s Electronic Filing Obstruction Senator John Ensign’s (R-NV) continual obstruction of timely disclosure of Senate campaign finance reports through electronic filing is the accountable government equivalent of standing in the school house door. CLC Files Comments in Lobbyist Bundling Disclosure Rulemaking Today the Campaign Legal Center, together with Democracy 21, Common Cause, the League of Women Voters and U.S. PIRG, filed comments in response to the Federal Election Commission’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM 2007-23) on “Reporting Contributions Bundled by Lobbyists, Registrants and the PACs of Lobbyists and Registrants.” In the Wake of Valdes Attorneys for Rep. William "Dollar Bill" Jefferson are already trying to utilize a recent DC Circuit ruling on the gratuities statute in United States v. Valdes. The defense might not work for a Member with $90,000 in marked bills in his freezer, but it certainly would seem to argue for a fix to the gratuities statute currently pending in the Senate. |
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