[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 25 (Wednesday, March 9, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: March 9, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                 STICK TO THE FACTS, PASS LOBBY REFORM

                                 ______


                           HON. JILL L. LONG

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 9, 1994

  Ms. LONG. Mr. Speaker, I have been amazed at the significant 
disinformation presented recently as fact--in an editorial by the New 
York Times in an article which appeared in Roll Call and in a letter 
from Common Cause President Fred Wertheimer. I am also amazed that some 
Members who supported a $20 gift limit are now critical of legislation 
that bans all gifts because it does not go far enough. It appears that 
some are more interested in having a glitzy Congress-bashing issue than 
in passing major reforms to our current lobby laws.
  It is a shame, especially because those who oppose any reforms are 
loving every minute of the nitpicking in hopes that no bill will be 
passed.
  For the better part of last year, John Bryant, the chairman of the 
Judiciary Subcommittee on Administrative Law and Governmental 
Relations, worked to craft a thoughtful piece of legislation on this 
issue--despite pressure from many Members not to do so. The bill was 
approved by his subcommittee before we adjourned last year--with 
unanimous and bipartisan support.
  The Bryant bill would make a number of major changes to current law. 
They are significant improvements in my opinion. The bill would, in 
fact, ban lobbyists from giving Members and staff meals, entertainment, 
gifts and travel-related expenses.
  Critics of the Bryant bill do the Congress and the public a 
disservice to this issue by distorting the bill's strong provisions.
  Specifically, Common Cause, the New York Times, and Roll Call state 
that the Bryant bill would allow lobbyists to pay for golf, tennis, 
skiing, and other recreational trips.
  They are wrong. The bill bans such gifts. It only allows any such 
expenditure when a company pays--not a lobbyist--and only to attend an 
event sponsored by a charitable organization. Moreover, the bill 
requires disclosure of any such expenditures every 6 months to ensure 
against abuse.
  The second fallacy is based upon the assertion that the family 
relationship and personal friendship exception in the Bryant bill could 
be used to continue gift-giving--even by those who are not truly 
friends of Members or staff.
  This is also incorrect.
  The bill currently provides that a gift given by a lobbyist to a 
Member or staff does not qualify for the exception if the lobbyist is 
reimbursed by an employer, firm or client for the value of the gift, or 
deducts the value as a business expense on his or her taxes. The bill 
also considers the history of the relationship, including whether gifts 
have been exchanged in the past, in determining if a gift qualifies for 
this exception.
  Some of those who criticize the Bryant bill may be looking for a 
soapbox instead of a policy change. It is unfortunate that they ignore 
the facts in their quest for exposure.
  Mr. Speaker, I hope my colleagues will not be sidetracked by 
fallacious assertions and that you will support those of us who want to 
pass this significant legislation.

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