Representative
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515

RE: We need serious lobbying reforms NOW

Dear Representative ,

The growing scandal in Congress requires far-reaching reforms in the way Congress and special interest lobbyists do business.

This is not the time for half-hearted proposals or fixing a few loopholes.

I support Common Cause's Ethics Challenge, five sweeping reforms that, if enacted, will send a message to voters like myself that Congress is serious about regaining the trust of the American people and protecting the integrity of our democratic process.

These five reforms are vital and urgently needed:

• Create an Independent Ethics Commission to investigate congressional ethics misconduct.
• Prohibit Members of Congress and their staffs from accepting gifts from registered lobbyists. Ban all privately financed Congressional travel. If the trip is important enough for a Member to make, it is important enough to be publicly financed.
• End the campaign money chase that is at the core of the current scandal. Publicly-funded, clean election reform for congressional campaigns is critical to changing the way Washington works.
• Stop members of Congress and senior staff from immediately taking jobs as lobbyists once they leave public service.
• Institute real-time reporting of lobbying contacts and real enforcement of disclosure rules.

I will join millions of Americans in very closely monitoring the ability of current members of Congress to swiftly pass sweeping and effective reforms that will restore our trust in Congress and in the health of our democracy.