[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 31, Number 1 (Monday, January 9, 1995)]
[Pages 22-23]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Letter to Congressional Leaders on the Agenda for the 104th Congress

January 5, 1995

Dear Mr. Speaker:

    We have an opportunity to make historic change in the way that 
Washington works and the government does the people's business.
    This week, the Congress has begun to take important and positive 
steps to change its operations for the better. Shrinking the number of 
committees, reducing staff, and other measures are valuable, and long 
overdue. The passage of legislation that would apply to Congress the 
laws that apply to the public is only fair, is simple common sense, and 
is also long overdue. I hope that this time, unlike the last session of 
Congress, the Senate follows the House's action. I congratulate you on 
these steps.
    But true congressional reform must reduce the power of lobbyists and 
special interests. The power of organized money in Washington hurts the 
middle class, bloats spending and the deficit, and blocks needed change. 
Today, some 90,000 people in Washington are associated with lobbying 
Congress on behalf of specific interests, which too often are able to 
manipulate the congressional process to insert spending projects or tax 
provisions in legislation that do not serve the larger public's 
interest. Lobby power coupled with the ever-escalating cost of 
campaigns, which has risen fourfold over the past two decades, gives 
wealthy interests and wealthy candidates disproportionate influence in 
decisionmaking.
    These are not partisan concerns; they are American concerns. I urge 
you, as you undertake the task of reforming Congress, to take on these 
real political reform issues.
    First, as you enact legislation to apply general laws to Congress, 
it is vital that professional lobbyists be barred from giving gifts, 
meals and entertainment to members of Congress--just as they are now 
barred from giving these benefits to executive branch officials.
    Second, Congress should also quickly enact legislation to bring 
professional lobbyists into the sunlight of public scrutiny. The current 
lobby disclosure statute is cumbersome and antiquated. Lobbyists should 
disclose who their clients are, what bills they seek to pass or block, 
and how much they are paid.
    Third, I am pleased that the Congress wants to pass a line item veto 
authority for the President, something that I have consistently 
supported before and during the 1992 campaign and since. The line item 
veto authority will help us cut unnecessary spending and reduce the 
budget deficit. It is a powerful tool for fighting special interests, 
who too often are able to win approval of wasteful projects through 
manipulation of the congressional process, and bury them in massive 
bills where they are protected from Presidential vetoes. It will 
increase the accountability of government. I want a strong version of 
the line item veto, one that enables the President to take direct steps 
to curb wasteful spending. This is clearly an area where both parties 
can come together in the national interest, and I look forward to 
working with the Congress to quickly enact this measure.
    Finally, we must clean up political campaigns, limit the cost of 
campaigning, reduce the role of special interests, and increase the role 
of ordinary citizens. Real campaign finance reform, too, should be an 
area of bipartisan cooperation. Requiring broadcasters to provide time 
to bona fide candidates would cut the cost of campaigning and ensure 
that voters hear all arguments, regardless of candidate wealth. Strong 
proposals for free TV time have been introduced in previous years by 
Senator Dole and by the new chair of the House Commerce Committee,

[[Page 23]]

Rep. Thomas Bliley; these proposals should be the basis of agreement on 
reform.
    I look forward to working with the Congress to achieve results that 
are bipartisan, bold, and give the government back to the people.
    Sincerely,
                                                  Bill Clinton

Note: Identical letters were sent to Newt Gingrich, Speaker of the House 
of Representatives; Robert Dole, Senate majority leader; Thomas A. 
Daschle, Senate minority leader; Richard K. Armey, House majority 
leader; and Richard A. Gephardt, House minority leader.