Barack Obama: Obama Calls on House to Pass Ethics Reform Legislation that Includes Bundling Disclosure

May 17, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, DC –“Today, we moved one step closer toward sweeping ethics reform in Washington. The House Judiciary Committee approved a provision that would require lobbyists to disclose how much they have bundled and who they bundle it from. We should not keep the biggest role lobbyists play hidden. We need to bring the practice out into the open.”

“That is why I proposed and the Senate passed legislation last year that would require quarterly reporting of all contributions that a lobbyist collected or arranged that total more than $200 in a calendar year. This includes not only campaign contributions, but also contributions to presidential libraries, inaugural committees, and lawmakers’ charities. The law doesn’t call for a complete halt in bundling. It just calls on lobbyists who have a stake in the outcome of legislation to disclose that information to the public.”

Article continues below...

“In 2006, we made a promise to the American people to change Washington. The House has the opportunity to honor that promise. If we can open up the system and pull aside the curtain of secrecy, then we just might be able to start changing the way Washington works.”

Source: Senator Barack Obama