sub: BAN BRIBERY NOW!
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Lobbyist Gift Reform Countdown, May 4, 1994
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Supporting the Lautenberg/Wellstone/Feingold
Lobbyist Gift Reform Bill ----------- S.1935
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EDITORIAL - NOW THE HOUSE IS BURNING

The last issue talked about how the leadership was going to dumb down S.1935. Here's how they did it:

Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has placed amendment 1674 on the floor as a substitute for S.1935. The text of the bill was made available at 9:30 PM EST tonight. The vote on the amendment is going to be at 1:30 PM tomorrow, May 5th. This is done just so all the East Coast people would be in bed and the newspapers can't write editorials.

So here is what the McConnell amendment says.

The maximum that any one Member can receive in gifts from any one source is lowered from $250 to $150 per year.

The reporting threshhold is lowered from $100 to $75.

The penalty for violations of gift rules for Senators is expulsion from the Senate.

What about fancy meals in Washington? No change.

What about the Golf and Tennis Caucus' charity trips with lobbyists? There's a provision that specifically exempts charitable events from restrictions.

So if amendment 1674 passes, essentially nothing changes. All the trips, all the fancy dinners, all the bait that lobbyists bring to the table will still be there. The amendment is exactly the meaningless alternative we expected.

We can't let this stop us. We must do it one more time. Our representatives have to know we are watching and we are mad!

SENATE

Before going to work, please call your two Senators in Washington one more time. The switchboard is (202) 224-3121. Some people have reported that it takes 10 rings for them to answer, so be patient.

The message to give is different than before, but it is simple:

"Support S.1935 as written. Vote against amendment 1674."

If you can call up your friends and relatives and ask them to call too, it would be a great help. Can we ask you to call at least three people?

Fight graft! Fight graft! Fight graft!