Senate Legislative Transparency and Accountability Resolution of 2006

Bill: 109-sres-525
Sponsor: Sen. Feingold, Russell D. [D-WI]
Introduced: 2006-06-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Congress
Subjects: Conflict of interests
Congressional committees (Senate)
Congressional employees
Congressional ethics
Congressional information resources
Congressional officers
Congressional privileges and immunities
Congressional travel
Ex-Members of Congress
Families
Finance and Financial Sector
Financial disclosure
Foreign agents
Gifts
Government Operations and Politics
Government publicity
International Affairs
Internet
Legislation
Legislative amendments
Lobbying
Members of Congress
Political parties
Politicians' families
Private aviation
Science, Technology, Communications
Senate
Senate Ethics
Senate rules and procedure
Transportation and Public Works
Travel costs
Web sites

Summary:
action_date: 2006-06-29
text: 
Senate Legislative Transparency and Accountability Resolution of 2006 - Amends Rule XXIII (Privilege of the Floor) of the Standing Rules of the Senate to deny floor privileges (except for ceremonial functions and events) to former Senators and Senators-elect, Secretaries, Sergeants at Arms of the Senate, and Speakers of the House of Representatives if they: (1) are registered lobbyists or agents of a foreign principal; or (2) are in the employ of or represent any party or organization for the purpose of influencing, directly or indirectly, the passage, defeat, or amendment of any legislative proposal.
 
Amends Rule XXXV (Gifts) to exclude gifts from lobbyists or agents of a foreign principal from the gift ban exceptions.
 
Requires a Member, officer, or employee, before accepting otherwise permissible transportation or lodging from any person other than a governmental entity, to obtain a written certification from such person (copy to the Select Committee on Ethics) that: (1) the trip was not financed by a registered lobbyist or foreign agent; (2) the person offering the transportation or lodging did not accept, directly or indirectly, funds from a registered lobbyist or foreign agent specifically earmarked to finance the travel expenses; (3) the trip was not planned, organized, or arranged by or at the request of a registered lobbyist or foreign agent; and (4) registered lobbyists will not participate in or attend the trip. Prescribes additional disclosure requirements, including certain information regarding noncommercial air travel.
 
Amends Rule XXXVII (Conflict of Interest) to impose a one-year lobbying moratorium, upon leaving such position, on any employee on the staff of a Member or on the staff of a committee meeting specified rate of pay and congressional employment criteria.
 
Prohibits a Senator from directly negotiating or having any arrangement concerning prospective private employment until after the election for his or her successor has been held, unless public disclosure of such employment negotiations and arrangements is provided.
 
Requires a Member to prohibit all of his or her staff from having any official contact with the Member's spouse or immediate family member if such individual is a registered lobbyist or is employed or retained by a registered lobbyist to influence legislation.
 
Amends Rule XLIII (Representation by Members) to prohibit a Member, with the intent to influence on the basis of partisan political affiliation an employment decision or employment practice of any private entity, from: (1) taking or withholding, or offering or threatening to take or withhold, an official act; or (2) influencing, or offering or threatening to influence, the official act of another.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-06-29
text: Referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration. (text of measure as introduced: CR S6811-6812)
action_date: 2006-06-29
text: Introduced in Senate