Publisher's Synopsis
Excerpt from S. 885, to Modify Congressional Restrictions on Gifts: Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management of the Committee on Govermental Affairs United States Senate One Hundred Third Congress First Session on S. 885
Too many here in Washington, from politicians to pundits, are cynical about real reform. Only public pressure will force President Clinton's promised revolution in government to rescue American politics from being held hostage - and I think this does happen - by big money special interests. We must restore the basic democratic principle, and it is a core principle, that each person counts as one and only one. That is the very issue Of accessibility and Openness, and the test Of representative democracy.
During Senate ?oor consideration Of the Lobby Disclosure Act in early May, I Offered an amendment to that bill to require itemized disclosure of financial benefits that lobbyists give to Members Of Congress and their staffs. That amendment was adopted by the full Senate.
A similar lobby disclosure bill is currently pending before the House Judiciary Committee. That Committee has held a hearing on the disclosure bill, and they are expected to act on it soon. I am hopeful that they will incorporate the provisions Of my amendment in the House bill in the Committee markup, and that you will retain that provision in conference. I understand that there is growing support for such disclosure on the House side, as will be evidenced by the introduction of my disclosure amendment on a separate piece Of legislation later this month, interestingly enough, by several 1st - term representatives.
Of course, I agree that the preferable and most straightforward way to address the gift problem would be to enact the bill you are considering today. But until we impose a man, a comprehensive set of new disclosure requirements on gifts from those most likely to give such gifts - well-heeled Special interest lobbyists with legisla tive agendas before the Congress - should be enacted. Indeed, dis closure may help to hasten the day when we enact such a ban.
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