Two House Democrats plan to introduce legislation to address the Jack Abramoff lobbying scandal, The Hill newspaper reports.

According to the paper, Rep. Rahm Emanuel (Illinois) and Rep. Marty Meehan (Massachusetts) will introduce the bill next week. It would require lobbyists to explain how private groups pay for Congressional travel, force lawmakers to disclose ties to non-profit groups and extend the "cooling off" period for retiring lawmakers and staff from one year to two years.

The issues arose as the Senate Indian Affairs Committee investigated Abramoff's activities on behalf of his tribal clients. In one instance, the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians helped fund an overseas trip by House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas). Other tribes were asked to do the same.

The investigation also showed that a former staffer of Sen. Conrad Burns (R-Montana), who helped the Saginaw Chippewa Tribe of Michigan with a $3 million appropriation, went to work for Abramoff, who represented the tribe. Other Congressional staffers went to work for Abramoff's firm as well.

The Hill did not say whether the bill would include provisions that directly affect tribes or lobbyists that work for tribes.

Get the Story:
Lobbying reform targeted at DeLay, Abramoff issues (The Hill 4/21)

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