Carnahan calls for new rules on lobbyists, campaign finance

The rules for lobbying and campaign finance must be stronger to control the influence of special interests, Democrat Robin Carnahan said during a stop Monday in Cape Girardeau.

Carnahan called for a lifetime ban on lobbying by former members of Congress and a ban on fundraising committees called Leadership PACs that allow politicians to raise money to support their political activities outside campaigns. She also said Congress should ban "war rooms," space given to lobbbying groups in the Capitol office buildings so they have close access to lawmakers.

Carnahan, the Missouri secretary of state expected to be her party's nominee for U.S. Senate after today's primary, said the current rules prevent voters from seeing how lawmakers are influenced by special interests.

"Folks are fed up with business as usual in Washington that puts corporate interests ahead of things for just plain folks," Carnahan said in her remarks to about 40 people gathered at Broadway Books & Roasting Co. on Broadway.

Carnahan was especially critical of U.S. Rep. Roy Blunt, who is expected to be the Republican nominee. Several of her proposals are aimed directly at practices she said Blunt embraces. Carnahan said 20 former Blunt staff members now work as lobbyists and he allowed his congressional office to become a war room for 400 lobbyists working on the Medicare prescription drug bill in 2003.

"I call bull on anybody who wants to continue this abusive practice," Carnahan said.

Carnahan's other proposals include:

* A requirement that lawmakers disclose the time, date and content of meetings with lobbyists.

* Strengthening campaign reporting laws to require monthly reporting of contributions and spending. Carnahan also wants to force Senate candidates to file disclosure reports electronically, ban contributions from companies or individuals under investigation by Congressional committees and tighten reporting of "bundled" contributions.

* Banning earmarked appropriations.

* Require that any proposed change in legislation be posted online for 72 hours before a floor vote on a bill.

* Strengthen ethics requirements by giving the Office of Congressional Ethics the power to issue subpoenas and conduct full investigations into the conduct of members.

Asked if she would voluntarily implement her own proposals -- she could issue monthly fundraising reports or disclose more details about bundled contributions -- Carnahan said her campaign is abiding by the current rules. "As soon as Congressman Blunt steps up to the table and agrees to go by stricter rules, I will do that," she said.

rkeller@semissourian.com

388-3642

Pertinent address:

Cape Girardeau, Mo.