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[ Article crossposted from atl.general ]
[ Author was Gary Ruskin ]
[ Posted on 13 Jul 1995 21:36:36 GMT ]

Congressional Reform Briefings                    July 11, 1995
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SUMMARY
     Citizens will soon have an opportunity to win a major battle
against corruptive Congressional perks.  Legislation pending in
the Senate -- which will be brought to a floor vote no later than
July 28 -- would clean up one of the most destructive forms of
corruption in Washington: the loophole-ridden Congressional gift
rules that allow lobbyists and other special interests to give
lavish meals and vacations to members of Congress.

     Current Congressional gift rules allow members of Congress
to accept Epicurean meals and posh vacations from corporate and
wealthy special interests. As the Cleveland Plain Dealer recently
described it, "periodically, you see the stories.  A gaggle of
politicians is spotted sunning and funning on prime vacation
turf, all expenses paid by some industry with deep pockets and a
keen interest in legislation pending before Congress."

     Unfortunately, these corruptive, consoling gift rules will
not likely die easily.  It is important that citizens call, fax,
or send e-mail to Senators sitting on a gift reform task force
and urging them to adopt strict Congressional gift rules.  In
particular, these Senators need calls: Trent Lott (R-MS), Mitch
McConnell (R-KY), Ted Stevens (R-AK), William Cohen (R-ME), John
Ashcroft (R-MO), Alan Simpson (R-WY), Wendell Ford (D-KY),
Christopher Dodd (D-CT), John Breaux (D-LA), Harry Reid (D-NV),
and Jay Rockefeller (D-WV). The Congressional switchboard phone
number is (202) 224-3121.

THE PROBLEM: FREE MEALS, GOLF, SKI, AND TENNIS TRIPS FROM
LOBBYISTS AND OTHERS SEEKING LEGISLATIVE FAVORS
     Current rules allow members of Congress to receive a wide
variety of gifts from corporations and other special interests.
Gifts to members of Congress such as Epicurean meals, lavish
vacations, entertainment, golf, ski, and tennis trips, are
commonplace.  

     These gifts have a corrupting influence for three reasons:
1.   They are a form of "legalized bribery."  Members of Congress
should not be allowed to accept expensive gifts from lobbyists or
organizations who have a significant interest in pending
legislation.

2.   These meals and trips allow corporate and wealthy special
interests to purchase access to members of Congress which is
unavailable to most Americans.  Some members of Congress develop
close relationships with these lobbyists and corporate interests
during these all-expenses-paid luxurious vacations, meals, and
entertainment.  These relationships lead to Congressional votes
in favor of corporate and wealthy special interests, and against
the interests of the vast majority of American taxpayers.

2.   Members of Congress develop a kingly lifestyle subsidized by
-- and accompanied by -- corporate interests. This high-flying
lifestyle (funded by a $133,600 per year salary, generous
pensions, and extraordinary perks) puts many members of Congress
completely out of touch with the economic burdens and troubles of
ordinary Americans.  

     Ralph Nader says that "Many Members of Congress avail
themselves of a swank and luxurious lifestyle filled with
Epicurean meals and posh vacations paid for by special interest
lobbyists.  This is how lobbyists facilitate their influence on
votes, and how the hidden income of members of Congress swells to
a capacity limited only by greed and the size of the human
stomach."

     Representative Andy Jacobs (D-IN) has said that "If you
accept a lunch or a weekend trip from a lobbyist as a
congressman, the only reason it isn't a bribe is because Congress
gets to say what a bribe is."

     Following a corporate-sponsored Congressional junket, the
New York Times wrote on February 9, 1994:
      "Senator John Breaux of Louisiana was angered last month
when ABC's  Prime Time Live' filmed him and five other lawmakers
enjoying an all-expenses-paid holiday at a fancy Florida resort,
courtesy of U.S. Tobacco and the other corporate sponsors of an
annual sporting event called the Corporate Charity Classic. 
       You should be ashamed of yourself,' he told the reporter
Chris Wallace.
     Maybe Mr. Breaux has stayed too long in the sun.  It is he
and his colleagues who should be ashamed, for accepting benefits
like free travel and vacations from powerful interests with
business before Congress.  The corporations did not invite Mr.
Breaux because of his tennis skills.  They wanted to solidify
personal ties that can help with legislation."

RECENT LEGISLATIVE HISTORY
     Last year, gift reform legislation passed the House and the
Senate, but was blocked in a Senate Republican filibuster at the
end of last year, and died.

     In early January 1995, Republicans blocked a proposal to
include gift ban legislation in the Congressional Accountability
Act, which requires Congress to comply with a number of labor
laws that apply to the private sector.  At the time, Republicans
stated that they would address the gift reform issue later in the
legislative session.

     On June 20, 1995, Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole (R-KS)
established a bi-partisan Senate task force on gift reform.  The
ostensible purpose of the task force is to develop a compromise
proposal which might please as many Senators as possible, and
have the best chances of passage. 

     On June 21, House Majority Leader Richard Armey (R-TX) said
that the House will not act on gift reform until the Senate does. 
"If they can get something thorough the Senate, then I can spend
some time on the issue and have some chance of getting it done, "
Armey said.
 
     On July 9, 1995 Senators Carl Levin (D-MI), Paul Wellstone
(D-MN), and Tom Daschle (D-SD) pressured Senate Majority Leader
Bob Dole (R-KS) into an agreement that a strong gift
reform/lobbyist disclosure bill (S. 101) will be brought to the
Senate floor for a vote no later than July 28.
     
THE SOLUTION: STRICT GIFT REFORM LEGISLATION
     A strong bi-partisan gift reform/lobbyist disclosure bill
(S. 101) is co-sponsored by Senators Paul Wellstone, Carl Levin,
Max Baucus (D-MT), William Cohen (R-ME), Russ Feingold (D-WI),
John Glenn (D-OH), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), and John McCain (R-AZ). Their bill would prohibit members of Congress from
accepting:
*    Gifts of vacations and "charity trips" from corporate
     and wealthy special interests.  Members of Congress
     could only accept reimbursement for travel directly
     related to official business.  
*    Any gift from a lobbyist, except for minor items such
     as informational materials, or food and refreshment
     that are not part of a meal.
*    Meals or "refreshments" valued at more than $20.
*    Contributions from lobbyists to foundations or
     organizations controlled or directed by a member of
     Congress.  This includes legal defense funds for
     members of Congress.

     The lobbyist disclosure provisions of S. 101 would:
*    Replace the loophole-filled lobbyist disclosure laws
     with a uniform standard for who must register as a
     lobbyist.
*    Require disclosure of who is paying how much to lobby
     which federal agencies or Congressional committees on
     what issues.

THE STRATEGY
     The easiest way to win Congressional gift reform in the
Senate would be if the Senate gift reform task force were to
adopt a gift reform proposal substantially similar to S. 101. 
Given that several members of this task force have been strong
opponents to strict Congressional gift rules, the best way to
ensure that a strong proposal emerges from the task force is for
constituents to contact their Senators on the gift reform task
force and strongly encourage them to support a ban on gifts of
meals and vacations to members of Congress.  At this stage in the
process, it is critical that constituents of Senators on the gift
reform task force encourage their friends, neighbors, and
colleagues to contact their Senators in support of this important
Congressional reform.

     If the gift reform task force recommends a weak proposal,
then it will be more difficult to win a strong bill -- like S.
101 -- in a Senate floor vote.

WHAT YOU CAN DO
1.   Call, fax, or send e-mail to the following Senators on the
gift reform task force urging them to approve legislation that is
similar to S.101. This Senate gift reform task force includes
Trent Lott (R-MS), Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Ted Stevens (R-AK),
William Cohen (R-ME), John Ashcroft (R-MO), Alan Simpson (R-WY),
Wendell Ford (D-KY), Christopher Dodd (D-CT), John Breaux (D-LA),
Harry Reid (D-NV), and Jay Rockefeller (D-WV). In particular,
stress the importance of banning all gifts from lobbyists, all
meals worth more than $20, and all lobbyist-paid golf, ski, and
tennis vacations.  

     All members of Congress can be reached through the
Congressional switchboard: (202) 224-3121. Here are local phone
numbers and e-mail addresses (where available) for these key
Senators: 

Trent Lott                         Mitch McConnell
Phone: (601) 762-5400              Phone: (502) 582-6304

Ted Stevens                        William Cohen
Phone: (907) 456-0261              Phone: (207) 622-8414

John Ashcroft                      Alan Simpson
Phone: (314) 725-4484              Phone: (307) 772-2477
john_ashcroft@ashcroft.senate.gov  

Wendell Ford                       Christopher Dodd
Phone: (502) 582-6251              Phone: (203) 240-3470
wendell_ford@ford.senate.gov       sen_dodd@dodd.senate.gov

John Breaux                        Harry Reid               
Phone: (504) 589-2531              Phone: (702) 474-0041
senator@breaux.senate.gov          senator_reid@reid.senate.gov

Jay Rockefeller
Phone: (304) 347-5372
senator@rockefeller.senate.gov

     Senators Paul Wellstone (D-MN), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ),
Russ Feingold (D-WI), and Carl Levin (D-MI) are also on the
Senate gift reform task force.  They have been solid supporters
of gift reform in the past.  You may want to call or send e-mail
to them to thank them for their good work.

2.   For Senators not on the gift reform task force, and not
sponsors of S. 101, call, fax, or send e-mail to them urging them
to co-sponsor S.101.  

FOR MORE INFORMATION     
     Send e-mail to <gary@essential.org> or call (202) 296-2787. 
E-mail addresses and fax numbers for members of Congress are
available by gopher to essential.org.  Electronic copies of S.101
are available by gopher to essential.org. 
     
     The Congressional Accountability Project is a Ralph Nader
Congressional watchdog group.

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