Feingold, Obama introduce ethics plan Monday
Feingold, Obama introduce ethics plan Monday
Wi Section Sponsors Advertiser Directory Advertising Information By The Associated Press
.WASHINGTON — Sen. Russ Feingold introduced legislation with Sen. Barack Obama on Monday to strengthen ethics laws for members of Congress, getting an early start as the new Democratic majority in the Senate takes up the issue.
“This could be one of the best moments in many, many years, in terms of ethics in Washington,” Feingold said in a telephone interview.
The bill by Feingold, D-Wis., and Obama, D-Ill., would, among other things, ban lobbyists and the groups that employ them from making gifts to members, create an Office of Public Integrity to investigate ethics complaints, and ban members from negotiating for future work as lobbyists. It would also require lawmakers and campaigns to pay the charter rate for the use of corporate jets, rather than the far cheaper first class rate.
“The American people put their faith in us so we could restore their faith in government,” said Obama, “and this is our chance to make that happen.”
The Senate is expected to take up to two weeks on ethics legislation.
At a news conference later, Feingold and Obama joined Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., who said he was working with them to include as many of their ideas as possible.
“I’m real optimistic that we’re going to get at least major elements of it passed,” said Feingold, a longtime champion of increased ethics in government. “... It’s very clear from the election results that people, as a prerequisite for our doing other things, want us to clean up the corruption.”
But Feingold said he wouldn’t be surprised if Congress had to revisit the issue down the road even if it approves his plan.
“That’s the nature of the game,” he said. “You’ve got to find the abuses, find where they’re trying to get the loopholes, and close them up. It’s the nature of the system: it encourages people to try to find ways around the rules. But if we’re tough, we can minimize the damage.”
Feingold said he was pleased with the rules package that passed the House last week, which included tough bans on receiving gifts and travel from lobbyists and their employers and banning the use of corporate jets.
“Real good. Exciting. Done quickly,” he said. “It’s a good model for what we should be doing in the Senate.”
Eight freshmen senators joined Feingold and Obama at the news conference, including Minnesota Democrat Amy Klobuchar.
“Until we fix the way that Congress does business, we’re not going to be able to tackle the challenges that we have with energy independence and affordable health care and giving some relief to the middle class,” she said.
http://www.winonadailynews.com/articles/2007/01/09/wi/01winews0109.txt
Wi Section Sponsors Advertiser Directory Advertising Information By The Associated Press
.WASHINGTON — Sen. Russ Feingold introduced legislation with Sen. Barack Obama on Monday to strengthen ethics laws for members of Congress, getting an early start as the new Democratic majority in the Senate takes up the issue.
“This could be one of the best moments in many, many years, in terms of ethics in Washington,” Feingold said in a telephone interview.
The bill by Feingold, D-Wis., and Obama, D-Ill., would, among other things, ban lobbyists and the groups that employ them from making gifts to members, create an Office of Public Integrity to investigate ethics complaints, and ban members from negotiating for future work as lobbyists. It would also require lawmakers and campaigns to pay the charter rate for the use of corporate jets, rather than the far cheaper first class rate.
“The American people put their faith in us so we could restore their faith in government,” said Obama, “and this is our chance to make that happen.”
The Senate is expected to take up to two weeks on ethics legislation.
At a news conference later, Feingold and Obama joined Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., who said he was working with them to include as many of their ideas as possible.
“I’m real optimistic that we’re going to get at least major elements of it passed,” said Feingold, a longtime champion of increased ethics in government. “... It’s very clear from the election results that people, as a prerequisite for our doing other things, want us to clean up the corruption.”
But Feingold said he wouldn’t be surprised if Congress had to revisit the issue down the road even if it approves his plan.
“That’s the nature of the game,” he said. “You’ve got to find the abuses, find where they’re trying to get the loopholes, and close them up. It’s the nature of the system: it encourages people to try to find ways around the rules. But if we’re tough, we can minimize the damage.”
Feingold said he was pleased with the rules package that passed the House last week, which included tough bans on receiving gifts and travel from lobbyists and their employers and banning the use of corporate jets.
“Real good. Exciting. Done quickly,” he said. “It’s a good model for what we should be doing in the Senate.”
Eight freshmen senators joined Feingold and Obama at the news conference, including Minnesota Democrat Amy Klobuchar.
“Until we fix the way that Congress does business, we’re not going to be able to tackle the challenges that we have with energy independence and affordable health care and giving some relief to the middle class,” she said.
http://www.winonadailynews.com/articles/2007/01/09/wi/01winews0109.txt
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