I was amazed that the Post editorial board was disappointed that I refused to go along with the sham ethics reform and disclosure bill that passed the House on Monday.  I voted against this legislation because it will do absolutely nothing to correct the real source of corruption in our political system, the corrosive effect of money in campaigns.  This ethics bill was all about good political theater, not good government.

If we truly want to clean up Washington and curb the influence of lobbyists and big money donors, the only cure is public financing of all federal campaigns, something that I have advocated since I was first elected to Congress. 

No new ethics law or disclosure requirement will prevent an unscrupulous lawmaker or lobbyist from finding a way to break the rules.  And the successful prosecutions of Jack Abramhoff, former Congressman Duke Cunningham, and former Congressman Bob Ney are the best proof that existing regulations are effective. 

Regarding earmarks, I have always been happy to fully disclose information about my earmark requests.  That information is already available on my office website.

This year's list of supplemental funding in the City of St. Louis and St. Louis County include investments in transportation, hospitals, schools, cultural institutions and other very worthy community projects.

I have always been pleased to use the power of my office to help the community that I represent, and this year is no different.

In the end, good and honest government depends on the character and quality of the people we choose to represent us, not on creating new loads of paperwork that does nothing to clean up the real problem.

Sincerely,

Wm. Lacy Clay
Member of Congress