Following his Pledge to Clean Up Washington, Congressman Patrick Murphy Voted for Two Measures to Increase Transparency in Lobbyist Relationships and Campaign Contributions

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, Pennsylvania Congressman Patrick Murphy (D-8th District) voted for more tough new requirements with respect to disclosure and enforcement of lobbying laws and campaign contributions. Rep. Murphy’s voted for two measures designed to end the culture of corruption and restore accountability as well as add strict reporting guidelines for campaign contributions from lobbyists. This first bill, the Honest Leadership, Open Government Act of 2007, seeks to end the tight-knit relationship between lobbyists and lawmakers and takes another major step toward making the 110th Congress the most open, honest Congress in history. The second bill is the Lobbying Transparency Act which requires lobbyists who “bundle” or collect campaign checks for members of Congress to meet strict reporting and disclosure guidelines. Earlier this year, Congressman Murphy voted for the most aggressive ethics package ever – which includes lobbying and gift reform – as one of his first votes in Congress. He also voted for stringent earmark reform which eliminates secret spending projects or “earmarks” and supports having an online database available to the general public that lists earmarks, limited tax benefits, and limited tariff benefits before they are considered by Congress. He is one of the original co-sponsors of the House Ethics Commission Establishment Act of 2007 which establishes an independent ethics commission made up of former members of Congress who are not lobbyists.

“After the abuses of the past, something had to be done to change the way Washington does business,” said Congressman Patrick Murphy. “We may never completely clean up the swamp down in Washington but these tough reforms aim to restore our faith in government.”

The Honest Leadership, Open Government Act of 2007 is tough legislation to end the culture of corruption and restore accountability in Washington. The bill ends the tight-knit relationship between lobbyists and lawmakers and takes another major step toward making the 110th Congress the most open, honest Congress in history. It closes the revolving door, ends the K Street Project, requires full public disclosure of lobbying and enforces lobbying restrictions.

The Lobbying Transparency Act requires lobbyists who “bundle,” or collect campaign checks for Members of Congress, to meet strict reporting and disclosure guidelines. This bill requires a lobbyist who “bundles” two or more contributions totaling more than $5,000 a quarter ($40,000 an election cycle) made to a candidate or PAC to file quarterly reports with the House and Senate Clerks.

Congressman Murphy’s Record of Reform

Voted for the Most Aggressive Ethics Package Ever and Congressional Lobbying and Gift Reform as one of his first votes in Congress:

• Bans gifts to members and staff from Lobbyists and the organizations that employ them.
• Bans lobbyist-funded travel junkets except for 1-day visits to a site or university-funded travel.
• Requires certification and pre-approval for travel paid by any outside group.
• Prohibits use of company planes used to provide favors and special lobbying access.
• Mandates ethics training for all Members and Staff.
• Curbs abuses of voting time for the purpose of “arm-twisting” to affect a vote outcome.
• Reforms conference committees to ensure open and honest participation by all members.

Voted for Earmark Reform as one of his first votes in Congress:

• Eliminates the practice of secretly inserting spending items into the federal budget.
• Requires committees to disclose the sponsors of all spending projects.
• Prohibits trading of earmarks for votes.
• Requires Members and spouses to certify they have no financial interest in earmarks.
• Restores Pay-As-You-Go Budgeting by requiring new spending to be offset by cuts elsewhere.
• Complete elimination of earmarks in the Continuing Resolution for Fiscal Year 2007.

An Original Co-Sponsor of House Ethics Commission Establishment Act of 2007 (HR 1754). This requires:

• The Establishment of an Independent Ethics Commission comprised of twelve Former Members of Congress (six Democrats and six Republicans) who are not registered lobbyists.
• The Ethics Commission will assume the role of investigators of conduct complaints against Members of the House of Representatives.
• Any disciplinary actions recommended by the Ethics Commission must receive a majority vote by the full membership of the House of Representatives in order to take effect.

A Co-Sponsor of Legislation for Increased Openness and Transparency for Earmarks (H.Res 169)

• This would require that lists of earmarks, limited tax benefits, and limited tariff benefits included in bills, joint resolutions, or conference reports be made available on the Internet in a searchable format to the general public for at least 48 hours before consideration.

For Immediate Release, May 24, 2007
Contact: Adam Abrams (202) 225-4276