Public Citizen

The Revolving Door turns too fast.

Public service turns to profiteering far too often. Members of Congress, their staff and many executive branch employees often cash in their government jobs for lobbying positions influencing their former colleagues. Obviously, this undue influence does not always produce policy and laws that are good for the people.

Congress is currently finalizing its lobbying and ethics reform bill. The House bill can be improved by including the following Senate-passed reforms:

1. Extending the cooling-off period from one year to two for members of Congress;
2. Prohibiting lobbying activities, as well as lobbying contacts, during the cooling off period;
3. Creating a ban of at least one year on lobbying contacts with Congress as a whole for former congressional staffers; and,
4. Requiring public officials to publicly disclose negotiations for private sector jobs that may pose a conflict-of-interest job vis-à-vis their current positions.

It is essential that the House match the Senate’s efforts to slow the revolving door. Please take a minute to call (House directory/ (202) 225-3121) or personalize the email below.

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September 25, 2016

Subject:

I am writing to urge you to strengthen “revolving door” restrictions for government employees becoming lobbyists.

The current one-year probation period for former public officials is inadequate. Please work to ensure that the House bill includes the provisions in the Senate lobbying reform bill (S. 1), which restricts all lobbying activity — not just lobbying "contact" — within a two-year cooling-off period for members and senior executive branch officials.  Former senior Congressional staff members must be prohibited from making lobbying “contacts” with Congress as a whole for one year.

I am deeply concerned that lobbyists are buying undue influence in Washington by organizing and bundling huge sums of money. As we have seen with the likes of Jack Abramoff, Rep. Duke Cunningham and Rep. Bob Ney, the influence of lobbyists can lead to poor public policies, corruption and even jail time.

Please slow the revolving door and support the full disclosure of contribution “bundling” by lobbyists in the pending House bill.

Thank you for listening to a constituent.  I look forward to your reply.

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