    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2007, Book II)]
    [September 14, 2007]
    [Page 1200]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on Signing the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of
    2007
    September 14, 2007

        Today I signed into law S. 1, the Honest Leadership and Open
    Government Act of 2007. This bill represents some progress towards
    ethics, lobbying, and earmark reform, all of which I strongly support.
    Strengthening the ethical standards that govern lobbying activities and
    beginning to address meaningful earmark reform are necessary steps to
    provide the public with a more transparent lawmaking process. The
    essence of successful ethics reform is not laws and restrictions, but
    full disclosure. The legislation includes minimal improvements in the
    area of disclosure, both for lobbying and earmarks. But there is still
    more to be done, and I will work with the Congress to improve upon this
    legislation.
        For example, the bill holds Members of the Senate and executive
    branch employees to a much higher standard of conduct than Members of
    the House. The specific bill language is confusing, and I believe these
    increased restrictions would have a negative impact on recruitment and
    retention of Federal employees. I urge the Congress to make these
    standards more uniform and less confusing and to do so in a way that
    will not discourage public service.
        In addition, this bill would have the effect of unreasonably
    burdening sitting Presidents' and Vice Presidents' reelection campaigns.
    I look forward to working with Congress to amend these provisions to
    provide a reasonable process for allocating the cost of Presidential and
    Vice Presidential campaign travel that is consistent with security
    needs.
        I am pleased that the Congress has begun to make progress in
    bringing greater transparency to the earmarking process. However, this
    bill falls far short of the reform that American taxpayers deserve. I am
    concerned that there are potential loopholes in some of the earmark
    reforms included in this bill that would allow earmarks to escape
    sufficient scrutiny. This legislation also does not address other
    earmark reforms I have called on Congress to implement, such as ending
    the practice of putting earmarks in report language.
        I thank members of both parties who worked on this legislation and
    look forward to working with the Congress to further advance ethics,
    lobbying, and earmark reform.

    Note: S. 1, approved September 14, was assigned Public Law 110-81.