Senator Barack Obama on Ethics
S1, the Senate Bill on Ethics and Lobbying Reform is toothless. Speaker Pelosi sent up a red flag when she touted this legislation as the toughest ethics reform in two decades. And this quoted item from Senator Barack Obama’s website is just one more piece of evidence that Senator Obama is just another politician who would have the public believe this legislation will reduce or eliminate unethical activity in Washington. The penalties may be of some value but the chances of anyone being convicted are all but removed with the wording of the bill.
The credit he takes for ‘helping’ pass this ethics legislation, by record, is no more significant than anyone else who voted for it. He is not the sponsor or co-sponsor and 96 other senators voted for it. 2 voted no. And 2 did not vote. And now a report on the status of this legislation states it is held up by members nervous about outside scrutiny.
If anyone is ever charged with ethics violations based on this legislation, good luck trying to prove they ‘knowingly, willfully, and corruptly’ failed to comply with the rules. And if it is limited to ‘disclosure rules’ violations, the chances of reducing or eliminating unethical behavior is nil. Similar to the provision for ethics training. If an elected official needs ethics training, they have no business being in public office. If moving to a job as a lobbyist after serving in public office is not eliminated entirely, there is no ethics reform.
The connection between special interest money and public officials must be severed or there are no ethics. If it is not possible to accomplish this, then ethical government is impossible. If campaign money was simply collected and distributed equally among all candidates, perhaps the special interest money connection would disappear. But it would disappear because no one would contribute if influence was not attached to the transaction. That is why ethics reform that does not remove the temptation from the equation is no ethics reform at all.
Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com
Ethics and Lobbying Reform
Throughout his political career, Barack Obama has fought for open and honest government. As an Illinois State Senator, he helped pass the state’s first major ethics reform bill in 25 years. And as a U.S. Senator, he has spearheaded the effort to clean up Washington in the wake of numerous scandals.In the first two weeks of the 110th Congress, Senator Obama helped lead the Senate to pass the Legislative Transparency and Accountability Act, a comprehensive ethics and lobbying reform bill, by a 96-2 vote.
SEC. 216. INCREASED PENALTY FOR FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH LOBBYING DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS.
Section 7 of the Act (2 U.S.C. 1606) is amended by striking `$50,000′ and inserting `$200,000′.
SEC. 222. INCREASED CRIMINAL PENALTIES FOR FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH LOBBYING DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS.
Section 7 of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1606) is amended–
(1) by inserting `(a) Civil Penalty- ‘ before `Whoever’; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
`(b) Criminal Penalty- Whoever knowingly, willfully, and corruptly fails to comply with any provision of this section shall be imprisoned for not more than 10 years, or fined under title 18, United States Code, or both.’.