What might have been--from www.deanforamerica.com
Governor Dean's Proposal On Reforming Lobbying In Washington
At the heart of the corrupt Washington game is high-stakes, big-money lobbying. This is how the special interests purchase access and policy. This is why Congress writes an energy bill for oil companies and a Medicare drug benefit for pharmaceutical manufacturers.
Lobbying is not itself corrupt. It is, after all, the process by which citizens communicate with their elected representatives. But special interest industry lobbyists use a special tool--bundled $2000 campaign contributions--that is corrupting. And worst of all, average Americans have no idea that this is happening because the lobbying disclosure system in this country is a joke.
Governor Dean has previously proposed sweeping campaign finance reforms, including a cap of $250 on political contributions. But at the same time we need to pull back the curtain and let the American people know what is happening in Washington‚s corridors of power. We need real change in the rules for lobbying disclosure:
Disclosure should be more frequent. Under current law lobbyists register every six months. Governor Dean will press for rules requiring lobbyists to register on-line in real time, no later than 48 hours after making a lobbying contact in Congress or the executive branch. And that lobbying disclosure database should be available on-line so that ordinary citizens can keep an eye on their democracy.
Disclosure should be more specific. Right now, lobbyists only have to report which chamber of Congress or which executive branch agency they lobbied. Governor Dean will require them to report who they met with, when they met, and the subject of the lobbying contact.
Disclosure should be more comprehensive. A "lobbying contact" is defined very narrowly in federal law. But there is more than one way to influence a legislator. Lobbyists should be required to report how much they spend on media buys, grass-roots campaigns, and of course fundraising activities. Lobbyists should not be permitted to make political contributions at all, but beyond that they should be required to report when they facilitate contributions from others through bundling or other means.
Citizens in Wisconsin and around America have a real choice in this election--Howard Dean, an outsider candidate committed to real change in the lobbying system, or a Washington candidate who is a creature of the special interest-dominated status quo. |
