In Common: keeping up the pressure for reform

Common Cause Magazine, Summer, 1994 by Jackie Howell

CC activists have also been generating telephone calls to the offices of the seven Republican senators whose votes were key to ending the campaign finance reform filibuster in 1993 and whose continued support is essential.

LOBBY DISCLOSURE AND GIFT BAN

ON MAY 11, the U.S. Senate passed S. 1935, comprehensive gift ban legislation, 95 to 4. The bill prohibits members of Congress from accepting any gifts from lobbyists, including meals and entertainment, subject to certain exceptions for family and personal friends. It also prohibits privately financed trips for members of Congress that are primarily recreational and prohibits lobbyists from contributing to members' legal defense funds, charities and private foundations.

The crucial gift ban vote, however, had come earlier in the week, when Senators voted 59 to 39 to defeat a substitute amendment offered by Sens. Mitch McConnnell (R-Ky.) and Bennett Johnston (D-La.). The substitute would have allowed the current system of lobbyist-financed meals, trips, and entertainment to continue.

S. 1935 was sent to a House-Senate conference committee to be considered as part of a lobbying and gift reform package based on House and Senate lobbying disclosure and gift reform bills passed in 1993. At press time the committee had not agreed on a final bill.

CC is urging the conference committee to adopt the stronger Senate gift ban provisions and thereby close the serious loopholes contained in the House lobbying reform bill. The House bill allows members, their staffs and families to continue to take golf, skiing and tennis trips financed by special interests. CC also urged the conference committee to drop a House provision that would undermine the current criminal statute prohibiting illegal gratuities for members of Congress and other public officials.

Governing Board Election

COMMON CAUSE MEMBERS HAVE ELECTED the following 20 individuals to the 60-member National Governing Board, with three-year terms that began in June.

DAVID CAMPBELL, Albuquerque, N.M.

INCHUL CHOI, Chicago, Ill.

ARCHIBALD COX, Wayland, Mass. (reelected)

CASSIE LEVITT DIPPO, Salt Lake City, Utah.

JOE MORRIS DOSS, D.D., Princeton, N.J.

LISA FOSTER, San Diego, Calif.

JOHN HILDRETH, Austin, Texas. (reelected)

SUSAN LEDERMAN, New Providence, N.J.

HUBERT LOCKE, Seattle, Wash.

RUTH MILBURN, Houston, Texas.

JONATHAN MOTL, Helena, Mont. (reelected)

CANDICE NELSON, Great Falls, Va.

JEANNE NOBLE, New York, N.Y. (reelected)

ROSALIE SCHIFF, Littleton, Colo. (reelected)

ALAN SCHWARTZ, Aspen, Colo.

JONNY LEE STIFFARM, Eagle Butte, S.D.

SISTER NANCY SYLVESTER, IHM, Monroe, Mich. (reelected)

HARRY WELLINGTON, New Haven, Conn. (reelected)

FRED WERTHEIMER, Washington, D.C. (reelected)

TRACY WESTEN, Los Angeles, Calif. (reelected)

IN THE STATES

VICTORIES AT THE STATEHOUSE AND THE BALLOT BOX

THE SUMMER OPENED with two campaign financing victories: As a result of action by Common Cause state organizations, Massachusetts and Long Beach, Calif., adopted reforms featuring public financing.

When it looked like Massachusetts voters would have a chance to vote for comprehensive campaign finance reform, the state legislature suddenly "saw the wisdom of their ways," and adopted its own financing prescription, says CC/MASSACHUSETTS Executive Director Nathan Gibson.