Klobuchar Votes for Strongest Ethics and Lobbying Reform in a Generation

01/19/2007

Senator Klobuchar told Minnesota that ethics reform would be her first priority in the Senate, and worked with the leadership and fellow freshmen to deliver a strong bill that reflects Minnesota values

United States Senator Amy Klobuchar tonight joined her Senate colleagues in passing the Ethics Reform Bill, S. 1, as the first major piece of legislation under the new Democratic leadership.

Throughout her campaign, Amy Klobuchar had called for tough and sensible ethics reform, noting that such reform was central to Congress’ ability to deal with every other public issue. Before she left for Washington, Klobuchar told the people of Minnesota that delivering real, meaningful ethics reform was her very first priority. Upon arriving in the Senate, she joined Senator Reid, Senators Feingold and Obama, and her fellow freshmen at a press conference to call for swift passage of a strong bill. Last week, she delivered her first floor speech in the Senate on the subject of ethics reform.

Tonight, in a bipartisan effort, the Senate approved a measure that, among other things: bans gifts and meals from lobbyists and those that employ them; places strict limits on private travel; requires that travel on corporate jets be reimbursed at the charter rate; imposes enhanced lobbying disclosure requirements and tougher restrictions on the revolving door between Capitol Hill and lobbying firms; and brings transparency, as well as sensible limits, to the earmarking process.

“Last November, the people of Minnesota, and the people of this country, called for an end to business as usual in Washington, and tonight we answered them,” said Klobuchar. “With the energy of a great freshmen class, we have passed the strongest ethics reform that this country has seen in a generation. Now that we have worked to place all Americans on an equal footing, we can address the great challenges of our day, like energy independence, global warming, affordable health care, and relief for the middle class.”

All along, Klobuchar emphasized the need to bring Minnesota values and Minnesota-style reform to Washington. She worked with Senator Reid to ensure that this legislation included a tough gift and meal ban – a stronger ban than the one contained in the bill that passed the Senate last year. Last year’s bill merely banned gifts and meals paid for by lobbyists. And the original bill introduced on the first day of the new session this year had the same, limited ban. After reviewing the original bill, Klobuchar corresponded with Reid on the need for a stronger rule, and Reid included a Minnesota-style rule in an amendment to the bill. Thanks to that amendment, the legislation that passed tonight extended the gift and meal ban to include firms and organizations that employ lobbyists, as well as the lobbyists themselves.

“A rule banning gifts and meals from both lobbyists and those that hire lobbyists has worked in Minnesota, and it can work in Washington, D.C.,” said Klobuchar. “I was proud to help ensure that this rule was included in the final legislation.”

The Senate bill is S. 1. It passed by a vote of 96 to 2.