Democrats introduce ban on donations from earmark recipients

Two House Democrats introduced sweeping earmark reform this afternoon, which, if passed, would dramatically change the relationship between lawmakers and appropriations recipients.

The Clean Law for Earmark Accountability Reform (CLEAR) Act–introduced by Reps. Paul Hodes (D-N.H.) and Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) this afternoon–would bar a lawmaker from taking donations from any company, including its senior executives or lobbyists, on whose behalf the lawmaker secured an earmark.

“This is a matter of right and wrong,” Hodes said in a statement. “It is wrong that legislators request earmarks for companies or organizations and then turn around and take campaign contributions from them.”

The legislation marks an effort by at least some Democrats to steal the earmark reform issue from Republicans. Rep. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) has for months been urging Congress to investigate the relationship between lawmakers and earmark recipients. Flake’s proposal–voted down seven times by the House–focuses on the PMA Group, a lobbying firm with close ties to Democrats that was raided by the FBI in November.

PMA had donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to lawmakers who secured earmarks for its clients. Rep. Pete Visclosky (D-Ind.) received $271,500 from PMA, and Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.) has received $167,400, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. Both secured numerous earmarks for PMA clients.