[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 17]
[Senate]
[Page 24481]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


[[Page 24481]]

                  STATEMENTS ON SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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    SENATE RESOLUTION 188--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE THAT 
   LOBBYISTS SHOULD NOT BE GRANTED SPECIAL ACCESS PRIVILEGES TO THE 
   CAPITOL AND CONGRESSIONAL OFFICES THAT ARE NOT AVAILABLE TO OTHER 
                           AMERICAN CITIZENS

  Mr. CORZINE (for himself and Mr. Feingold) submitted the followintg 
resolution; whichwas referred to the Committee on Rules and 
Administration:

                              S. Res. 188

       Whereas a fundamental principle of American democracy is 
     that all citizens are created equal and all should have 
     access to Government leaders;
       Whereas there is a perception among many Americans that 
     special interest groups and lobbyists for special interest 
     groups have access to decision makers that ordinary citizens 
     do not have;
       Whereas this perception contributes to a belief that 
     middle-class citizens, and those of more modest means, are 
     treated unfairly in the political process;
       Whereas it is important that Americans have confidence that 
     Congress will treat all citizens equitably, regardless of 
     whether they are represented by professional lobbyists;
       Whereas recent terrorist events have increased the need for 
     security precautions at the Capitol and surrounding 
     congressional office buildings;
       Whereas tightened security measures may make it more 
     difficult for members of the public and lobbyists to gain 
     access to the Capitol complex;
       Whereas some lobbyists are now seeking to gain special 
     privileges for access to the Capitol complex that would not 
     be available to other members of the general public who have 
     official business before Congress;
       Whereas giving lobbyists privileged access to congressional 
     offices that is not available to the general public who have 
     official business before Congress would further contribute to 
     the perception that ordinary citizens are treated unfairly in 
     the legislative process; and
       Whereas granting privileged access for lobbyists is likely 
     to increase public cynicism about Congress and the political 
     process and heighten concerns about the excessive influence 
     of special interests and lobbyists: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that in 
     establishing rules governing access to the Capitol or 
     congressional offices for those who have official business 
     before Congress, lobbyists should not be granted special 
     privileges that are not available to other American citizens.

  Mr. CORZINE. Mr. President, today, along with Senator Feingold, I am 
submitting a resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that in 
establishing rules governing access to the Capitol or congressional 
offices for those who have official business before the Congress, 
lobbyists should not be granted special privileges that are not 
available to other American citizens.
  A fundamental principle of American democracy is that all citizens 
are created equal and all should have access to government leaders. 
Unfortunately, there is a perception among many Americans that special 
interests and their lobbyists have access to decision-makers that 
ordinary citizens lack. This contributes to the widespread belief that 
middle class citizens, and those of more modest means, are treated 
unfairly in the political process. In my view, it is critically 
important that we do everything reasonably practicable to give 
Americans confidence that Congress will treat all citizens equitably, 
regardless of whether they are represented by professional lobbyists.
  Recent terrorist events have focused attention on the need for 
security precautions at the Capitol and surrounding congressional 
office buildings. Already, tightened security measures have restricted 
access to the Capitol. I expect that other changes will be considered 
in the future as we seek to find an appropriate balance between 
legitimate security concerns and the need to give citizens access to 
their elected representatives. Unfortunately, in recent weeks, we have 
heard increasingly that some professional lobbyists are seeking to gain 
special privileges for access to the Capitol complex that would not be 
available to other members of the general public who have official 
business before the Congress. I believe that granting such special 
access would be a mistake, and that is why I am introducing this 
resolution.
  I understand that lobbyists can play an important role in the 
legislative process and have legitimate rights to participate in that 
process, just like other Americans. In my view, however, it would not 
be fair to provide lobbyists with special privileges that are not 
provided to other citizens who have official business before the 
Congress. Such privileged access would further contribute to the 
perception that ordinary citizens are treated unfairly in the 
legislative process and heighten concerns about the excessive influence 
of special interests and lobbyists. All Americans have a stake in 
debates before the Congress, not just lobbyists. If an elderly 
individual spends her own money to come to Washington to protect her 
Social Security benefits, there is no reason why she should face 
greater restrictions than a lobbyist representing a corporation seeking 
a special tax break. I hope my colleagues will support this resolution.

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