[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 118 (Wednesday, September 20, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1772-E1773]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    PROVIDING FOR EARMARKING REFORM IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. BETTY McCOLLUM

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 14, 2006

  Ms. McCOLLUM of Minnesota. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of real, 
comprehensive lobbying and earmark reform, and in opposition to H. Res. 
1000. While Republican leaders claim that this legislation is earmark 
reform, major loopholes in their bill allow future boondoggles like the 
Alaskan Bridge to Nowhere to pass through Congress without full public 
scrutiny. Further, the bill abandons any lobbying reform to end the 
Republican culture of corruption--typified by the Jack Abramoff and 
Duke Cunningham scandals.
  The Republican majority has allowed these scandals and pet projects 
to run rampant, underscoring the dire need for comprehensive

[[Page E1773]]

lobbying reform. According to the nonpartisan Congressional Research 
Service, since President Bush took office, federal spending on earmarks 
has more than doubled--from $33 billion in 2000 to $67 billion in 2006. 
Sadly, Republicans have failed to deliver on reform. On September 5th, 
a USA Today editorial said, ``Congress' answer to this ethics 
catastrophe has been a pair of competing measures in the House and 
Senate, which fall far short of what was promised in January but allow 
incumbents campaigning for re-election to claim they `voted for 
lobbying reform.' ''
  The reality is that H. Res. 1000 will not save one taxpayer dollar, 
will not remove a single earmark, and does not cover all earmarks. This 
sham reform bill is solely a symbolic effort to hide the fact that the 
Republican Majority has failed the Nation on fiscal matters.
  I join my Democratic colleagues in supporting a true, comprehensive 
lobbying reform bill that would ban travel on corporate jets, prohibit 
lobbyist gifts, slow the revolving door between Capitol Hill and K 
Street, shut down the K Street project in which jobs in lobbying firms 
were traded for legislative favors; shine the light on earmarks so that 
special interest provisions cannot be slipped into bills without public 
scrutiny, and put an end to some of the procedural abuses that have 
flourished in the Republican-controlled House.
  Democrats are fighting for these comprehensive reforms to ensure that 
Congress is held to the highest ethical standards. Corruption has come 
at great cost to the American people--from the cost of prescription 
drugs to the price at the pump.
  Mr. Speaker, my fellow Democrats and I are fighting for a new 
direction, because Americans want and deserve the real reform that 
restores accountability, honesty and openness in Washington.

                          ____________________