[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 4]
[House]
[Page 4435]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                            LOBBYING REFORM

  (Mr. EMANUEL asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, it is time for a spring clean at both ends 
of Pennsylvania Avenue. In the wake of the Jack Abramoff scandal, 
public approval for this Congress is at an all-time low and voters are 
demanding new priorities for America. But rather than working to 
restore the public's trust, some are more interested in protecting the 
culture of business as usual. They are perfectly happy with their cozy 
relationships where highly paid lobbyists serve as their ``back 
office,'' writing legislation, providing jobs to Members and relatives, 
and lavishing them with expensive dinners and trips.
  Yesterday, for instance, the Senate missed an opportunity for real 
reform when it rejected new restrictions on lobbyist-sponsored travel, 
presidential libraries, and, most importantly, an independent office of 
public integrity.
  Think about it. You can't take a ham sandwich from a lobbyist but you 
can get on their private plane with a ham sandwich. That is what they 
are allowed to do. You could drive a truck through those types of 
reforms. The House Ethics Committee hasn't even met in more than a year 
when one Member here has pled guilty and three others are under 
investigation.
  Mr. Speaker, the American people won't accept the continuation of 
business as usual under the guise of real reform. When that gavel comes 
down, it is intended to open the people's House, not the auction house.
  It is time for new priorities in America.

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