For Immediate Release: May 3, 2006
Contact: Kimberly Allen, (202) 226-8364; (202) 420-1524 [cell]
Rothman: To Clean House, We Need Real Lobbying and Ethics Reform
Today, Congressman Steve Rothman (D-NJ) stood up to Republican efforts to pass a sham lobby reform bill and voted against a watered-down bill to make modest improvements to lobbying rules without providing a comprehensive, permanent solution. Congressman Rothman's statement follows:
"We need real, comprehensive lobbying and ethics reform in Washington. Today, I supported proposals to permanently ban lavish gifts, ban the use of corporate or privately owned jets for official travel, stop 'dead of night' special interest provisions in legislation, require lobbyists to file more informative and accessible public disclosure forms, require Members of Congress to wait at least 2 years before going onto lucrative lobbying jobs, and enforce the ethics rules that are being ignored by the broken House Ethics Committee.
"Unfortunately, the Republican Leadership of the House majority instead rammed through a watered-down bill. It does practically nothing to stop the practices that led to an energy bill written by and for oil companies such as Exxon, which continues to post record profits.
"I voted against the Republican Majority's sham ethics and lobbying 'reform' legislation and I would do it again. It makes a mockery of the word 'reform' and insults the millions of Americans who want to see real change. We wasted taxpayer dollars keeping the lights on for this vote."
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