HOUSE VOTES TO PRESERVE REVOLVING DOOR FROM LAWMAKER TO LOBBYIST

The House has passed a weak lobbying-reform bill introduced, supported, and managed by the Republican Majority leadership that failed to close the revolving door of former Members of Congress who leave public office to work as lobbyists in Washington, DC.  Last week, I submitted a proposal to the Rules Committee to extend the ban on former Members of Congress from certain lobbying activities to five years. My proposal was rejected without a full vote from the House.

Currently, former Members are only prohibited from lobbying for one year after their departure from the House.  This means that 365 days after he resigns, Tom DeLay can come back to the Hill and use his incredible access to lobby his former colleagues and to enrich himself.  This creates an unlevel playing field for everyone else who engages in the political process.

I will continue to fight for real lobbying-reform.  The revolving door and lobbyist loopholes must be closed in order to return public trust to the political process. 

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