    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1995, Book II)]
    [November 29, 1995]
    [Page 1800]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on Congressional Action on Lobby Reform Legislation
    November 29, 1995

        I am delighted that Congress has passed lobby reform legislation.
    This bill will help change the way Washington does business. For too
    long, Washington's influence industry has operated out of the sunlight
    of public scrutiny. This new law will require professional lobbyists,
    for the first time, to fully disclose who they are working for and what
    legislation they are trying to pass or kill. Lobby reform will be good
    for American democracy and will help restore the trust of the people in
    their Government.
        This is precisely the sort of change that the American people have
    demanded and that I championed during my campaign for the Presidency and
    as President. I am particularly pleased that a strong bipartisan
    coalition in both the House and Senate stood firm for reform. I want to
    especially thank Senator Carl Levin, who championed this legislation for
    many years, and the other Members for their leadership, including
    Senator Bill Cohen and Representatives Barney Frank, John Bryant, and
    Charles Canady.
        Since I took office, I have challenged Congress to enact four
    significant political reform measures: legislation applying laws to
    Congress, a ban on gifts to lawmakers, lobby disclosure, and campaign
    finance reform. The Congress has now acted on the first three of these
    reform priorities. It is time to finish the job.