The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee held a hearing today on how Congress should respond to the recent lobbying and ethical scandals involving Jack Abramoff and his associates.
Several panelists and Senators correctly noted that at the heart of these scandals lie a campaign finance system that overwhelmingly favors wealthy interests above those of average Americans. U.S. PIRG applauds Senators Feingold, McCain, Santorum and Durbin for their testimony regarding the need to change the campaign finance laws. Committee members Warner, DeWine and Carper also spoke of the need to overhaul the current system with significant reforms such as capping campaign spending, better engaging small donors and average Americans, and publicly financing campaigns.
Other proposals were far less laudable. Senator Coleman’s proposal to create a study commission will simply delay action and undermine the potential for effective reform. If Congress does nothing more than study the problem, they will strike another blow to the already shaken faith of the American people and provide ample red meat (additional fodder) to late night comedians.
Proposals to create exemptions to bans on privately funded travel will simply open loopholes that invite abuse No one disputes that citizens benefit from policies informed by the first hand experiences of legislators. Legitimate educational travel by members should be paid for with funds appropriated by Congress.
Finally, Former Governor John Engler of the National Association of Manufacturers questioned whether strict bans on gifts to legislators are necessary. He said that sometimes the halls of Congress are crowded and buying an elected official a hamburger gives him a more relaxed setting to make his case. However, those halls are sometimes crowded with ordinary Americans from back home who have come to Washington to share the concerns of the community with their elected representatives. Why should those willing to buy meals and other gifts have preferential access?
We thank Senators Collins and Lieberman for holding these hearings and look forward to working them and the other Senators on answering the call of the American people for real reform to the way in which business is conducted in Washington.
