[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 65 (Friday, April 7, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E838]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                       LOBBYIST DISCLOSURE REFORM

                                 ______


                           HON. GEORGE MILLER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, April 6, 1995
  Mr. MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, Kevin Phillips has called the 
Contract With America a ``dubious mix of reforms, gimmicks and con 
jobs.''
  I call it a ``friendly corporate take-over of the Congress'' because 
the new Republican leadership has been encouraging lobbyists to serve 
as de facto official staff in drafting and amending legislation.
  I am not being naive about the existence, or the value, of lobbyists. 
But with the carte blanche provided them by the Republican leadership, 
lobbyists can contaminate the legislative process. And they have.
  The headline in last Friday's New York Times said it all: Business 
Leaves the Lobby and Sits at Congress's Table.
  Time magazine says that the Republican leadership ``has attached its 
fortunes to private lobbyists, and is relying on their far-flung 
influence to pass its agenda.'' Newsweek says that lobbyists are 
actually writing the bills. And they have it exactly right.
  Corporate representatives, individually and through coalitions like 
the Thursday Group, have been writing whole bills and amendments, with 
no public review and often without hearings, to serve their clients' 
narrow interests. Little wonder that the Contract With America has been 
described as ``a triumph for business interests, who * * * find 
themselves a full partner of the Republican leadership in shaping 
congressional priorities.'' The arm-length relationship between 
lobbyist and legislator has been brazenly abandoned.
  The examples are stunning: A committee of lobbyists rewrites the 
Clean Water Act ``to satisfy industry goups like the Chemical 
Manufacturers Association.'' Lobbyists, working from a Capitol office, 
plot the strategy and drafting of bills on regulatory reform and risk 
assessment. A lobbyist for the Wholesale Distributors develops the 
strategy on the product liability bill from an office provided by 
Republicans. A former Republican congressman is allowed to sit on the 
committee dais during a hearing on matters affecting his current 
client.
  With all due respect, what is going on here?
  I frankly do not know what is more disturbing: that these abuses are 
occurring, or that the Republican leadership and membership appear 
unconcerned and unaware that these practices degrade the democratic 
process.
  The American people did not vote last year to turn the legislative 
process over to lobbyists to rewrite our health and safety laws, our 
environmental laws, and our tax laws for the benefit of their corporate 
employers. And the Congress cannot allow this abuse to continue.
  Today, I am introducing an amendment to the House rules to require 
full disclosure of the role of all nonpublic employees in the drafting 
of legislation, amendments, reports and other products of the 
legislative process.
  I note that Speaker Gingrich was questioned about the substantial 
role of lobbyists in drafting the Contract, and replied, ``As long as 
it's out in the open, I have no problem.''
  My resolution assures that lobbyists' handiwork will be ``out in the 
open,'' and I think the integrity of the Congress requires that it be 
adopted without delay.


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