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[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 93 (Thursday, June 8, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1191-E1192]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

                          CONGRESSIONAL REFORM

                                 ______

                          HON. LEE H. HAMILTON

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, June 7, 1995
  Mr. HAMILTON. Mr. Speaker, I would like to insert my Washington 
Report for Wednesday, May 17, 1995 into the Congressional Record.
                           Reform of Congress

       Congress has made significant progress in its efforts to 
     prevent and prosecute ethics violations by individual 
     Members. A ban on honoraria for speeches, full financial 
     disclosure, a prohibition on the use of official funds for 
     campaign expenses, and increased scrutiny by the ethics 
     committee have all made Members of Congress more accountable 
     to the public. But public confidence in the institution 
     remains low, and further steps are necessary.
       Congress must continue to prosecute personal ethics 
     violations vigorously, but we must also strengthen Congress 
     by addressing institutional integrity more broadly. Some 
     congressional conduct, while it may be legal, hampers the 
     democratic process in the interest of political gain. We must 
     broaden our concept of public morality and the standards of 
     conduct to include a sense of fairness, respect for honest 
     differences, and responsibility to the democratic process.
       I have often expressed the concern that money plays a 
     disproportionate role in American politics. The high cost of 
     campaigns is increasing the dependence of candidates on 
     special-interest groups, forcing candidates to spend too much 
     time raising money instead of focusing on issues of national 
     importance and meeting with voters.
       Congress as an institution is damaged by the perception 
     that the flood of campaign money or favors from lobbyists are 
     influencing the behavior of Members of Congress. Even though 
     there is little evidence showing a direct impact on Members' 
     voting records, the public cannot be blamed for thinking 
     otherwise. The democratic process is also damaged when 
     Members make unfounded allegations or denigrate Congress as a 
     whole for personal political gain. Many important reforms 
     came close to passage last year, only to falter in election-
     year politics. I support a number of additional reforms to 
     improve the public image of Congress, including the 
     following:
       Campaign Finance Reform: The importance of Political Action 
     Committees (PACs) should be reduced. We should cap the total 
     amount of PAC contributions a candidate could accept per 
     election cycle and reduce the maximum PAC contribution limit. 
     Members of Congress should also be prohibited from running 
     ``leadership PACs'', which some use to gain influence over 
     other Members. Reform should require candidates to emphasize 
     small individual donations, capping the amount of large 
     contributions a candidate could accept per election 
     cycle. [[Page E1192]] 
       Gift Ban: I have cosponsored legislation to ban all gifts 
     to Members, with limited exceptions for close personal 
     friends or family. This bill would ban lobbyist contributions 
     to a legal defense fund and prohibit lobbyists from making 
     charitable contributions at a Member's behest. The bill also 
     limits the ability of Members to profit from generous book-
     writing deals.
       Lobbying Reform: Current registration requirements allow 
     thousands of paid lobbyists to evade lobbying disclosure 
     rules. Congress should act to close these loopholes and 
     require lobbyists to disclose who pays them, whom they lobby, 
     what issues they lobby for, and how much they are paid to 
     influence the legislative process or the executive branch. In 
     addition, Members of Congress and congressional committees 
     should disclose information about legislation they introduce 
     that was written by lobbyists.
       Ethics Panel: I have introduced legislation to create an 
     outside panel to investigate charges against Members. It is 
     enormously difficult for the ethics committee to fairly 
     investigate, prosecute, and judge ethics complaints against 
     fellow Members. With less of an investigative burden, the 
     committee could focus on important institutional ethics 
     issues, including preventive education on ethics and 
     guidelines on extremely harsh personal attacks.
       Congressional Salary: I have consistently voted against 
     congressional pay raises during my time in Congress, 
     including the most recent increase in 1989. I support the 
     proposals to freeze Members' salaries for several years. 
     Current law provides for an automatic cost-of-living 
     adjustment (COLA) for Members unless Congress votes it down 
     each year. While Congress has blocked these increases in 
     recent years, these automatic COLAs should be abolished. At 
     the very least, Congress should not receive an increase until 
     the budget is balanced.
       Congressional Pensions: I support significant reductions in 
     congressional pension benefits. Possible reforms include 
     increasing Members' personal contributions, capping total 
     pension benefits, and means-testing benefits for former 
     Members in lucrative jobs. Congress should conduct a 
     comprehensive study to bring congressional benefits in line 
     with benefits in the private sector.
       Franking: Since 1992, with my strong support, the House has 
     cut its mailing budget by more than 70%, banned mass mailings 
     within 60 days of an election, and required all mass mailings 
     to be approved by a bipartisan franking commission to ensure 
     that they are substantive and non-partisan. Additional 
     reforms are still needed. Congress should further restrict 
     unsolicited mailings and ban ``postal patron'' mailings to 
     all residents unless they advertise public meetings or 
     solicit information. All large mailings should be disclosed 
     for public scrutiny.
       Ongoing Reform Process: I am introducing legislation to 
     require regular congressional reforms--taking reform up every 
     Congress rather than having one-shot, omnibus packages every 
     twenty or thirty years. Members should have the opportunity 
     to vote on significant reforms at least every two years. 
     Reform should be a continual, ongoing process, and not wait 
     until problems force belated change.
       Conclusion: No issue is more important than the restoration 
     of the confidence of Americans in their government. Americans 
     will forgive government's honest failings if they believe 
     that it cares about their needs and is trying to do a better 
     job. Members of Congress have an obligation to earn the 
     public's respect and trust. Congress has taken some important 
     steps, but other, broader reforms are necessary if Congress 
     is to be the truly representative body the people deserve and 
     the nation's founders intended.
     

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