[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 190 (Thursday, November 30, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2274]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           FRAUD IN LOBBYING

                                 ______


                          HON. SANDER M. LEVIN

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 30, 1995

  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join Mr. Dingell today as an 
original cosponsor of legislation to make it a Federal crime to 
misappropriate a person's name in connection with lobbying Congress. I 
want to commend Mr. Dingell for bringing this important legislation to 
the floor.
  During the recent debate on the telecommunications bill, Members of 
Congress were deluged by thousands of telegrams in opposition to the 
measure.
  It turns out that most of the telegrams were sent without the 
knowledge or consent of our constituents. Their names and addresses 
were wrongfully expropriated by opponents of the telecommunications 
bill as part of a massive lobbying scam.
  Before the extent of this fraud was uncovered, my office responded to 
650 telegrams. I subsequently wrote these constituents a second letter, 
informing them that their names may have been used without their 
knowledge.
  I received dozens of replies from constituents who were outraged that 
a lobbying group would use their names without permission. I would like 
to read just one of them to you:

                                               September 29, 1995.
     Hon. Sander Levin,
     Rayburn House Office Building,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Congressman Levin: I found the attached letter at my 
     father's home while sorting through his things following his 
     recent death. He had written my name on the envelope, so I 
     assume he wanted me to handle this matter for him.
       The letter you sent was not addressed to my father, but to 
     my brother. My brother died 13 years ago. I don't know where 
     the list firm would have gotten his name. I personally had 
     his name withdrawn from the voters rolls many years ago to 
     avoid the somewhat painful mail being delivered to my 
     parent's home.
       I believe I can guarantee you that [my brother] did not 
     authorize a telegram to be sent to you in support or 
     opposition to any legislation
       Good luck in your investigation.
           Sincerely,
                                                Thomas H. Shields.

  Mr. Speaker, this telegram lobbying campaign was a blatant attempt to 
mislead the House of Representatives. Congress should take whatever 
steps are necessary to prevent this abuse from happening ever again.
  That's why we're here today. This legislation makes this type of 
misrepresentation a Federal offense punishable by up to 1 year in 
prison, fines, or both.
  Another one of my constituents hit the nail on the head. Referring to 
lobbying firms such as the one that orchestrated the telegram scam on 
the telecommunications bill, she wrote, ``I hope ya get the stinkers.'' 
This legislation is a good start.

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