The U.S. Senate passed the "Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007," by a vote of 83-14 today. The bill is a key ethics reform measure which now goes to George Bush for approval. No surprise though that all 14 "no votes" came from Republicans!!!! Who were they? Bennett (R-UT), Burr (R-NC), Coburn (R-OK), Cochran (R-MS), Cornyn (R-TX), Craig (R-ID), Crapo (R-ID), DeMint (R-SC), Ensign (R-NV), Graham (R-SC), Inhofe (R-OK), Kyl (R-AZ), Lott (R-MS), and McCain (R-AZ).
So Presidential hopeful John McCain doesn't think Congress is in desperate need of ethics reform? Interesting. Let's review the key provisions of the measure via Politico:
Requires disclosure on the Internet of lobbyist fundraising for lawmakers, including the amount of direct campaign contributions and bundled contributions and who raised them, as well as which lobbyists hosted fundraising events and how much was raised. Lawmakers must disclose the names of those lobbyists who have raised $15,000 or more for them within a six-month period by "bundling" donations from a pool of contributors.
Bars members of Congress from attending parties sponsored by lobbyists at national party conventions.
Requires lobbyists to report their lobbying activities every three months in an electronic format available on the Internet. The results will be posted immediately on the Internet.
Bans all gifts from lobbyists or their clients to lawmakers and their staffs.
Bans nearly all extended travel by members of Congress sponsored by nongovernmental entities. It does so by (a) barring any organization that employs a lobbyist from sponsoring trips for members longer than one day, (b) requiring pre-approval of all trips by the relevant congressional ethics committee, (c) requiring disclosure of all trips on the Internet and (d) barring lobbyists from going along on any of these trips. Senators, as well as candidates for the Senate and for the White House, are required to pay full charter rates for trips on private planes. House members and House candidates are barred from accepting trips on private planes.
Requires disclosure of the names of the sponsor and recipient of congressional
earmarks “if technically feasible” to be posted on the Internet 48 hours before final approval of appropriations and tax bills. The relevant committee chairman, the majority leader or someone designated by the majority leader must certify that earmarks have been disclosed. Senators must certify the earmarks would not directly benefit them financially.
Permits any senator to remove an earmark by raising a point-of-order challenge on an earmark slipped into a conference report.
Extends the "cooling-off" period for senators before they are eligible to join a lobbying firm from the current one year to two years. Former House members would have to wait one year. Both House and Senate members are required to disclose publicly any job negotiations they engage in while serving in Congress. Lawmakers are forbidden from attempting to influence hiring decisions among lobbying firms.
Bans secret "holds" on pending legislation.
So what exactly is John McCain and the rest of these Republican wackjobs so afraid of? Being honest?
