REP. ANDREWS SUPPORTS NEW ETHICS BILL, MAKING GOVERNMENT MORE TRANSPARENT

I am proud to announce that I voted in favor of the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act, legislation that drastically tightens ethics and lobbying rules for Congress.  This new bill would require lawmakers to fully disclose campaign contributions and lobbying practices.  I believe that transparency is critical in government, and this new legislation will ensure lawmakers are remaining honest to their constituents.  Below are some examples of what newspapers around the country are saying about this new legislation.

What Newspapers Are Saying About the
Honest Leadership and Open Government Act

“In the most sweeping overhaul of congressional ethics rules since the Watergate era, the House on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved a bill aimed at curbing the influence of lobbyists and repairing Congress' corruption-sullied image….(Los Angeles Times, 8/1/07)

“The House gave final and overwhelming approval yesterday to a landmark bill that would tighten ethics and lobbying rules for Congress, forcing lawmakers to more fully detail how their campaigns are funded and how they direct government spending. The new lobbying bill would, for the first time, require lawmakers to disclose small campaign contributions that are "bundled" into large packages by lobbyists. It would require lobbyists to detail their own campaign contributions, as well as payments to presidential libraries, inaugural committees and charities controlled by lawmakers. …The bill is the most far-reaching attempt at ethics reform since Watergate…”  (Washington Post, 8/1/07)

 “On a vote of 411 to 8, Democrats moved closer to fulfilling their pledge to change the culture of Washington,….The legislation, to be considered by the Senate later this week, also calls for greater disclosure of legislators’ special projects, or earmarks, which are often shrouded in secrecy.”  (New York Times, 8/1/07)

“The legislation is one of the most significant lobbying reform measures in years, analysts said…..(Chicago Tribune, 8/1/07)

“The House on Tuesday passed sweeping lobbying reforms that would require extensive disclosures of lobbying activities, including political fund-raising.”  (Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 8/1/07)

“The Democrat-led House overwhelmingly approved tougher rules governing the relationship between lawmakers and lobbyists, and on legislators trying to slip "pork" projects into spending bills.” (Washington Times, 8/1/07)

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