“Americans need to trust their government”
Washington, D.C. - Rep. Gabrielle Giffords took her first official act as a member of Congress today by voting for legislation to aggressively reform ethics rules in the House of Representatives.
Hours after taking the oath of office as the representative from Southeastern Arizona’s 8th Congressional District, Giffords fulfilled a campaign pledge by voting for measures aimed at restoring public faith in government.
“Americans need to trust their government,” said Giffords. “They demand to be closer to their elected representatives than corporate lobbyists. It is appropriate that the first votes of 110th Congress concern honesty, openness and accountability.”
Giffords, a third generation Arizonan, formally became a member of the House at 2:34 p.m. in Washington, D.C. (12:34 p.m. in Arizona). More than 100 friends and family members from Arizona and across the country were on hand to witness the swearing-in at the Capitol. A large number of supporters also packed her Tucson office to watch the swearing-in live on television.
The formal swearing-in on the floor of the House was followed by a ceremonial event with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the first women Speaker in American history, and former Arizona governor Bruce Babbitt.
A former member of the Arizona Legislature, Giffords is among 87 women in Congress. She is the third woman in Arizona history to represent the state in Congress. The 435-member House now has a record 71 women.
The ethics reform measures include:
A Ban on Gifts from Lobbyists: Members of Congress and their staff are not allowed to accept gifts or expensive meals that could sway legislators’ opinions, create unethical relationships between lobbyists and legislators, or give the appearance of impropriety. This is also a ban on gifts and meals from lobbyists and the organizations that employ them, and requires that tickets to sporting and other events given to Members and staff are valued at market prices.
A Ban on Lobbyist Travel: Lobbyists and the organizations that employ them cannot plan, organize, request, finance, arrange, or participate in travel for Members of Congress or their staff.
Shut Down Pay-to-Play Schemes: This measure ends the revolving door between Congress and lobbying firms, in which jobs were exchanged for political access.
A Ban on Arm Twisting for Votes: The measure prohibits the practice of holding votes open for undue amounts of time for the sole purpose of twisting arms and affecting the outcome of a vote.
A Requirement on fiscal and budgetary responsibility: Congress must use “pay-as-you-go” budget rules to stop any new deficit spending as the first step toward reversing record deficits mortgaging our children’s future.
Earmark Reform: There will be no secret deals between legislators and special interests — there will be full disclosure of all earmarks, requiring Members to certify that earmarks provided would be for the public good — not financially benefiting themselves or their spouses.