Senate passes congressional ethics reform

Published Friday, August 3, 2007

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Senate sent President George W. Bush a bill yesterday to make lawmakers pay for private plane rides and disclose more about their efforts to fund pet projects and raise money from lobbyists.

Some advocates called it the biggest advance in congressional ethics in decades. But Bush received it coolly, saying it does not go far enough.

The president has "serious concerns" about the measure and has not decided whether to sign it, White House spokeswoman Emily Lawrimore said.

Democrats, however, hailed the 83-14 Senate vote as proof they are fulfilling their 2006 campaign promise to crack down on lobbying abuses, which sent some lawmakers and a prominent lobbyist to prison. Like the House, the Senate passed the bill by a margin that would overcome a presidential veto, assuming no lawmakers switched sides.

Missouri’s delegation, Republican Kit Bond and Democrat Claire McCaskill, voted with the majority,

The bill would require lawmakers seeking targeted spending projects, or earmarks, to publicize their plans in advance. Lawmakers and political committees also would have to disclose those lobbyists who raise $15,000 or more for them within a six-month period by bundling donations from many people.

The Democratic-crafted bill would bar lawmakers from taking gifts from lobbyists or their clients. Former senators and high-ranking executive branch officials would have to wait two years before lobbying Congress; ex-House members would have to wait one year.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., called it "the most sweeping reform bill since Watergate."

But several Republicans said it fell short of requiring full disclosure of earmarks, which have soared in number - and controversy - in recent years. Some earmarks fund popular civic projects that boost a lawmaker’s re-election prospects. Others help large contractors or other companies that hire lobbyists and donate to campaigns.

Bush thinks the earmark disclosure requirements are "toothless," Lawrimore said. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., agreed during the Senate debate.

The bill "has completely gutted the earmark reform provisions we overwhelmingly passed in January," McCain said. He broke with former allies on ethics matters, including Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wis.

"By any measure," Feingold said in the debate, the bill "must be considered landmark legislation."

Under the bill, lawmakers seeking earmarks would have to publicize their plans 48 hours before a Senate vote. They would have to certify they have no direct financial interest in the items.

McCain said senators could circumvent the requirements by stating that timely disclosure was not technically feasible or by having the majority leader declare a bill earmark-free.

Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said it was ludicrous to suggest someone in his position would "cheat and lie" to hide earmarks.

The bill would require senators and candidates for the Senate or White House to pay full charter rates for trips on noncommercial planes. House members and candidates would be barred from accepting trips on private planes.

The legislation marks Congress’ strongest reaction yet to scandals involving former GOP lobbyist Jack Abramoff and former Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham, R-Calif. Both are now in prison on corruption charges that in some cases involved congressional earmarks.