(Washington, DC)— Congresswoman Diane E. Watson (CA-33rd) returned to Washington , D.C. today to join her House and Senate Democratic colleagues in unveiling the “Honest Leadership, Open Government Act.”   The Act is an aggressive reform package designed to reverse Republican abuses of power and protect the public interest.

“Congress is designed to be a deliberative body where ideas are exchanged freely,” said Congresswoman Watson.  “But the Republican leadership has turned Congress into a market place of bought and sold favors, a place where the relations of legislators and lobbyists have taken precedence over the needs of most American citizens.   That’s not democracy.   It’s pure and simple cronyism.”

The Honest Leadership and Open Government Act will focus of four key areas of reform:

• It will close the revolving door between government and K Street lobbying firms by strengthening the ban on lobbying by former members of Congress and senior government officials after they leave office.

• It will tighten gift and travel rules that have allowed lobbyists to buy Republican influence in Congress.

• It will put and end to the so-called K Street project where Republicans sought complete and total domination of corporate and lobbying firms.

• It will increase accountability in government.

“The culture of corruption that permeates Capitol Hill has impacted families in the 33rd congressional district as they try to heat their homes and send their kids to college.  Its past time to put an end to the stranglehold of special interest money that funnels billions of dollars of subsidies to already rich oil companies, underwrites no-bid contracts to its friends like Halliburton, and refuses to let Congress get on with the business of responsible governance and meeting the real needs of the people."