Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) plans to offer an amendment to the Tax Relief
Extension Reconciliation Act of 2005 calling on the White House to disclose any and all meetings between indicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff and the White House. This comes following reports that Abramoff clients were charged $25,000 each for "face time" lunches with President Bush.
Boxer is also calling out for her colleagues in the Senate to join her in co-sponsoring the amendment, writing to them that the public believes "a culture of corruption permeates Washington." In the letter, Boxer continues by quoting last night's State of the Union speech, arguing that it is the President's duty to restore public trust through government transparency.
An excerpt from the amendment reads as follows:
Advertisement
"Due to the serious nature of Jack Abramoff's crimes and continuing allegations of corruption involving him, public confidence in the government can only be restored if there is full disclosure of his contacts with the President, White House staff, and senior executive officials.
(b)SENSE OF THE SENATE- It is the sense of the Senate that
the White Hous should immediately and publicly disclose each visit and meeting between Jack Abramoff and the President, White House staff, or senior executive branch officials which should include the date, list of attendees, purpose of the visit or meeting, any documentation associated with the visit or meeting, including any photographs, and any action taken or withheld by the government as a result of the contact."
The amendment can be viewed in its entirety here in PDF format.
Boxer's letter seeking co-sponsors can be viewed here, also in PDF format.
