Lobbying and Related Reform Proposals: Consideration of Selected Measures, 109th Congress

Publication Date: March 2006

Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Author(s):

Research Area: Politics

Type:

Abstract:

Numerous measures related to the reform of lobbying activities, including lobbying disclosure laws, campaign finance provisions, and congressional ethics and procedural rules have been introduced in the House and Senate in the 109th Congress. This report describes action taken on three measures that have received committee consideration and have been subsequently reported either to the House or Senate. These measures are S. 2349, the Legislative Transparency and Accountability Act of 2006, introduced by Senator Trent Lott and reported to the Senate by the Committee on Rules and Administration on February 28, 2006; S. 2128, the Lobbying Transparency and Accountability Act of 2005, introduced by Senator John McCain and reported to the Senate by the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs on March 2, 2006; and H.Res. 648, to eliminate floor privileges and access to Member exercise facilities for registered lobbyists who are former Members or officers of the House, introduced by Representative David Dreier and adopted by the House on January 25, 2006.

Floor consideration of S. 2349 was begun in the Senate by unanimous consent on March 6, 2006. During debate, Senator Trent Lott offered S.Amdt. 2907. The amendment was a substitute for S. 2349 consisting of the text of S. 2349, as reported, as Title I, and S. 2128, as reported, as Title II. SA 2907 was adopted by unanimous consent, and was considered a part of the original text of the bill for any further amendments. On March 8, 2006, five other amendments were offered during Senate debate, including two unrelated to lobbying reform: S.Amdt. 2944, offered by Senator Ron Wyden, would require that a Senator publicly disclose a notice of intent to object to proceeding to any measure or matter; and S.Amdt. 2959, offered by Senator Charles Schumer as a second degree amendment to S.Amdt. 2944, related to foreign ownership of U.S. ports. A cloture motion on S. 2349 was presented on March 8 by Senator Bill Frist. Cloture on the bill was not invoked by a vote of 51 - 47 on March 9. Further consideration of S. 2349, as amended, and the amendments that were pending when cloture was voted on, remain pending in the Senate. It has been reported that the Senate could take up consideration of S. 2349, as amended, during the week of March 27.

This report provides a table comparing current law and congressional rules with S. 2349, as amended by the Senate.

For further background and discussion of other lobbying-related proposals, please consult the CRS Current Legislative Issues page on Lobbying, Ethics and Related Procedural Reform at [http://beta.crs.gov/cli/ cli.aspx?PRDS_CLI_ITEM_ID=2405];

This report will be updated to reflect congressional action.