Congressman Max Rose (D-South Brooklyn, Staten Island) spoke on the Floor of the House of Representatives yesterday to urge his colleagues to pass his legislation to close the “Lobbyist Loophole.”
Rose’s Lobbyist Loophole Closure Act would require individuals who provide paid strategic advice in support of a lobbying contact with a government official to register as lobbyists—even if they don’t make direct contact.
“If it looks like a lobbyist, if it talks like a lobbyist, if it acts like a lobbyist, then ladies and gentleman let’s call it a lobbyist, let’s disclose it and regulate it as such,” said Rose in his address.
Under current law, trade associations and companies routinely hire outside consultants to provide “strategic advice” as part of their lobbying activities. However, because these outside consultants aren’t directly lobbying government officials, they are not required to register as a federal lobbyist, which Rose claims has been exploited by both Democrats and Republicans.
Additionally, Rose spoke in support of passing H.R. 1, the strongest anti-corruption legislation in Congressional history of which he is a co-sponsor. H.R. 1 includes his Lobbyist Loophole Closure Act and is expected to be voted on this week.
“We have got to take this opportunity and push the ball forward because for the last four years, the American people have been voting for change,” said Rose on the House Floor. “The Republicans called it ‘Draining the Swamp.’ The Democrats called it anti-corruption. The American people are united against the American political class. They are united against the D.C. political class, and we’ve got to do something about it.”
In early 2017, several companies hired President Trump’s former lawyer, Michael Cohen, to obtain advice in lobbying the Administration—which allowed him to avoid registering as a federal lobbyist. Similarly, after leaving office, former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle joined a law and lobbying firm as a “special policy advisor” in which he consulted without formally registering as a lobbyist.
Prior to being elected, Rose helped lead the charge in calling for Congressional leaders to make anti-corruption reforms a priority in the new Congress.
Check out the video here:
