|
Washington — Senators Joe Lieberman, Russ Feingold, and Barack Obama today called for immediate action on the Honest Leadership Act, the Democratic proposal to reform Congressional lobbying rules and clean up Washington from the Republican culture of corruption.
The Honest Leadership Act has attracted such widespread support that it has already reached forty co-sponsors, the Senators announced at the event. Democrats are lining up behind the Honest Leadership Act because of the pressing need for action now. A full list of cosponsors is attached to this release.
“The Republican culture of corruption has destroyed American confidence in their government,” said Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid of the event. “The Honest Leadership Act is ready today. Americans do not need months of delay, they need immediate action to restore their faith that their government is serving their interests, not the special interests.”
"We have a once in a generation opportunity to reach agreement on a broad set of reforms that will reduce the cynicism with which many of the American people view their government,” said Senator Lieberman. “We cannot let institutional defensiveness stop us from achieving that goal. The status quo stinks and cries out to us to lead the way to clear the air. Mark my words: Congress will come together this year to reform our lobbying lows and remove the cloud of suspicion currently hanging over this institution."
“I look forward to working with all my colleagues to pass the strongest possible lobby and ethics reform bill,” said Senator Feingold. “The important thing is to act quickly while people are calling out for reform and to resist distractions thrown up by the defenders of the status quo. Congress must be bold and aggressive to regain the public’s trust. Now is the time to act.”
“In the President’s State of the Union address last night, he spoke for forty-six minutes before he finally dedicated less than sixty words to ethics reform,” said Senator Obama. “This is unacceptable. We need to prove to the American people that we are committed to reform, and if the President is unwilling to lead on this issue, then Congress must show him the way by passing meaningful reform legislation immediately.”
Republicans have fundamentally altered the way Washington works, installing a pay to play system in which lobbyists like Jack Abramoff have bought access with the ruling party. Americans are demanding reform, and Democrats are ready with Honest Leadership Act to answer their call.
COSPONSORS TO THE HONEST LEADERSHIP ACT
Senator Daniel Akaka Senator Max Baucus Senator Evan Bayh Senator Joe Biden Senator Jeff Bingaman Senator Barbara Boxer Senator Maria Cantwell Senator Thomas Carper Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton Senator Kent Conrad Senator Mark Dayton Senator Byron Dorgan Senator Richar Durbin Senator Russ Feingold Senator Dianne Feinstein Senator Tom Harkin Senator Daniel Inouye Senator Jim Jeffords Senator Tim Johnson Senator Ted Kennedy Senator John Kerry Senator Herb Kohl Senator Frank Lautenberg Senator Patrick Leahy Senator Carl Levin Senator Joe Lieberman Senator Blanche Lincoln Senator Bob Menendez Senator Barbara Mikulski Senator Patty Murray Senator Bill Nelson Senator Barack Obama Senator Jack Reed Senator Harry Reid Senator John D. Rockefeller Senator Ken Salazar Senator Paul Sarbanes Senator Chuck Schumer Senator Debbie Stabenow Senator Ron Wyden
###
|
