Democrats Meet To Prepare for the 110th Session of Congress
Wednesday, January 03, 2007PAUL KANGAS: The incoming Democratic chairman of the House Financial Services Committee is talking with business and labor groups about what he calls a grand bargain. Congressman Barney Frank today said he will support business agenda items like trade and immigration in exchange for business support in closing the wage income gap. And then Frank wants trade bills to address workplace conditions. He wants to make it easier for unions to organize and for employers to support universal healthcare. He says all Americans should have a stake in economic growth, a concept he likens to staying afloat financially.
REP. BARNEY FRANK, CHMN-ELECT, HOUSE FINANCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEE: The rising tide lift all boats has always been a problem. If you think about that analogy, the rising tide is a very good idea if you have a boat, but if you are too poor to afford a boat and you are standing tiptoe in the water, the rising tide goes up your nose.
KANGAS: Frank and the other members of the House and Senate report for work tomorrow and the 110th session of Congress will get down to business. One of the first orders of business will be to reform the ethics guidelines used by the lawmakers themselves. Washington bureau chief Darren Gersh reports.
DARREN GERSH, NIGHTLY BUSINESS REPORT CORRESPONDENT: One day before they take control in the 110th Congress, Democrats met behind closed doors, trying to turn their campaign promises into reality. Representative Louise Slaughter put at the top of the list ending those infamous corporate- sponsored junkets.
REP. LOUISE SLAUGHTER, CHAIR, HOUSE RULES COMMITTEE: The idea of a member of Congress flying on a corporate jet, being a captive of that corporation for hours on end is really repulsive to most of us. We should not allow that.
GERSH: The House will vote on new Democratic ethics rules banning travel paid for by companies or trade associations that employ lobbyists. Trips funded by universities or foundations would have to be approved in advance by the House Ethics Committee. The new rules would double the so- called revolving door limit, making lawmakers and senior staff wait two years before taking a job lobbying their former colleagues. Common Cause's Mary Boyle calls the proposed new rules a good first step, but adds they should be applied by an independent panel.
MARY BOYLE, PRESS SECRETARY, COMMON CAUSE: But without the enforcement to kind of back this up, it is not really credible in our eyes because we have just seen the rules not followed too many times before.
GERSH: Paul Miller represents corporate and trade association lobbyists. He says the new guidelines would make it harder for members to travel overseas and learn about trade issues affecting jobs back home.
PAUL MILLER, SPOKESMAN, AMERICAN LEAGUE OF LOBBYISTS: My concern is that the trips will go away and they're not going to be able to visit plants. They're not going to see new technology. They're not going to be able to visit with workers who may be losing their jobs or impacted by something that may be happening overseas.
GERSH: House Democrats also pledge to limit member pet projects. Committees will now have to list those earmarks when they pass bills. But President Bush wants earmarks identified in law, not just the committee reports used to explain legislation.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Here's my own view to end the dead of the night process. Congress needs to adopt real reform that requires full disclosure of the sponsors, the costs, the recipients and the justifications for every earmark.
GERSH: There may also be an important loophole to the travel ban. Members of Congress might still be able to use corporate jets to attend fundraisers which are covered under Federal election laws. Darren Gersh, NIGHTLY BUSINESS REPORT, Washington.
