Feingold Introduces Lobbying Bill

Sen. Russell Feingold, D-Wis., entered the debate Thursday over lobbying overhaul and ethics by introducing a bill that would require increased lobbying disclosure, further tighten restrictions on lobbyist-financed member travel and place more limits on members and staff leaving government to lobby. "Recent campaign finance reforms are helping, but with reports of members of Congress taking corporate jets with lobbyists on board to fly to fundraisers and going on lobbyist-funded golf junkets, it is clear that more work needs to be done," Feingold said. The measure is similar to a bill by Reps. Martin Meehan, D-Mass., and Rahm Emanuel, D-Ill. According to a Feingold bill summary, the measure would require the establishment of a searchable electronic database and would require lobbyists to file quarterly reports, provide a detailed account of contacts with members of Congress and report spending for grassroots lobbying. The bill places prohibitions against lobbying-financed travel for members. It also would impose a two-year lobbying moratorium for executive and legislative branch employees, including a ban on former members of Congress from supervising a lobbying effort.
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