[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 170 (Tuesday, October 31, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H11573]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      ENDING WELFARE FOR LOBBYISTS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Texas [Mr. DeLay] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. DeLAY. Mr. Speaker, in the coming weeks, this Congress has a 
chance to end welfare for lobbyists once and for all, ending the 
insidious practice of allowing Federal grant recipients to use taxpayer 
dollars while advancing their own narrow special interests.
  Much has been written and debated on this issue; but, contrary to 
many Washington political pundits and the special interests who are 
desperately trying to save their taxpayer-funded subsidies, the issue 
is really quite simple. The American people do not want their money 
going to special interests to lobby Congress.
  Consistent with the Republican philosophy that people, not the 
Government, know best how to spend their own money, the Istook-
McIntosh-Erlich language ends this abuse of taxpayer dollars being used 
directly or indirectly to lobby by Federal grant recipients. This ban 
on lobbyist subsidies will ensure the Nation's taxpayers that their 
money is not being used by Washington lobbyists to promote a special 
interest agenda they may or may not agree with.
  To those who oppose this legislation, I have just one question: If 
you are not abusing Federal taxpayer dollars now, then what is all the 
fuss about?
  The people who oppose this important reform legislation cannot have 
it both ways. On the one hand, they argue that they do not lobby with 
taxpayer dollars, while, on the other hand, they contend that ending 
their subsidy will directly impact their lobbying efforts.
  Mr. Speaker, I think we owe the American people who are taxpayers in 
this Nation a pledge that we will not let their money be used for any 
special interest group to lobby in this Capitol or any State capitol 
around this country. Let us promise to let the people of this country 
decide who, if anyone, should speak for them.
  It may be Halloween, but do not let the ghouls and goblins of 
taxpayer subsidies past scare you out of doing the right thing for our 
country.
  I urge my colleagues in this House and in the other body to end 
welfare subsidies for lobbyists.

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