The Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007 is a law of the United States federal government that amended parts of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995. It strengthens public disclosure requirements concerning lobbying activity and funding, places more restrictions on gifts for members of Congress and their staff, and provides for mandatory disclosure of earmarks in expenditure bills. The bill was signed into law by President George W. Bush on September 14, 2007.

Bill sponsors

Main Sponsor: Sen Reid, Harry M. Co-sponsors:

Details of the bill

Closing the revolving door Ending the "K Street Project" Prohibiting gifts by lobbyists Full public disclosure of lobbying activity New transparency for lobbyist political donations, bundling and other financial contributions Congressional pension accountability Prohibited use of private aircraft Toughening penalties for falsifying financial disclosure forms

Amending House ethics rules

Disclosure by Members and staff of employment negotiations Requires senior staff to notify the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct within three days if they engage in negotiations or agreements for future employment or compensation. Requires that Members prohibit their staff from having any lobbying contact with the Member's spouse if such individual is a registered lobbyist or is employed or retained by a registered lobbyist to influence legislation. Posting of travel and financial disclosure reports on the Internet Participation in lobbyist-sponsored events during political conventions

Amending Senate ethics rules

Procedural reform Congressionally directed spending reform Post-employment restrictions Disclosure by senators and staff of employment negotiations Elimination of floor, parking and gym privileges for former Members who become lobbyists Influencing hiring decisions (K Street Project) Ban on gifts from lobbyists and entities that hire lobbyists National party conventions Restrictions on lobbyist participation in travel Attendance at constituent events Senate privately paid travel public website Lobbying contact with spouses or immediate family members who are registered lobbyists Prohibits senators' immediate family members who are registered lobbyists from engaging in lobbying contacts with their family member's staff. Mandatory Senate ethics training for members and staff Annual reports on ethics enforcement

Criticism

In April 2014, the Sunlight Foundation opined that the HLOGA of 2007 drove lobbyists underground. In January 2015, a report by the Sunlight Foundation and OpenSecrets found that of 104 former congressional members and staffers whose "cooling off" period ended during the first session of the 114th Congress which opened January 6, 2015, 29 were already in government relations, "public affairs," or serve as counsel at a firm that lobbies, and 13 of those are even registered as lobbyists.