Washington, D.C. - The House Judiciary Committee today passed an amendment to the Lobbying Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006, offered by Representative Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), which would require lobbyists to disclose any contribution that they solicit and transmit from any person or political committee to a Member of Congress. The amendment would also require the disclosure of any registered lobbyist who serves as a treasurer of a campaign of a Member of Congress or the chairman of any political committee.
“These added disclosures will shine a light on the nexus between lobbyists and the dash for campaign cash on Capitol Hill,” said Van Hollen. “This additional transparency should help curb the “pay to play” approach to lobbying that was the cornerstone of the Tom Delay legislative strategy.”
The additional disclosures will be made on the same form that lobbyists use to disclose the business that they conduct with Members of Congress.
Van Hollen continued, “Even though this important provision was included in the legislation, the overall bill remains weak. It would be misleading the tell the American people that the bill will significantly clean up the overall process when, for the most part, the Republican bill is window dressing that does little to change the status quo.”