Watch out for pet projects in the lobbying reform legislation being debated in the Senate this week.

The Hill newspaper reports that some senators want to attach amendments to the measure that might have little to do with lobbying. "Tying up with other amendments, what we call non-germane amendments, is not going to be in anybody's best interests," Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tennessee) said on the floor yesterday.

The package Frist is pushing is a combination of the bill approved by the Senate Rules Committee last week and the lobbying reform bill introduced by Sen. John McCain (R-Arizona). McCain's bill includes a one-year "cooling off" period to bar former Interior Department officials from lobbying their colleagues on behalf of tribes.

The Rules Committee rejected an attempt to impose more disclosure requirements on tribal campaign contributions. But McCain left open the possibility that related provisions could be included in the bill being debated this week.

Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Connecticut), the ranking Democrat on the committee, said he opposes attempts to link campaign finance reform to lobbying reform.

Get the Story:
Senators eye lobbying bill as ready vehicle for pet causes (The Hill 3/7) House GOP to include 527 language in its bill (The Hill 3/7)

Lobbying Reform Bill:
Legislative Transparency and Accountability Act of 2006 (S.2349) | Section-by-Section Summary

Other Lobbying Reform Bills:
Sen. McCain: Lobbying Transparency and Accountability Act of 2005 (S.2128) | Sen. McCain: Reducing Conflicts of Interests in the Representation of Indian Tribes Act of 2005 (S.1312)

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