U.S. Democrats resurrect old ethics bill

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WASHINGTON, May 16 (UPI) -- Congressional Democrats in Washington resurrected an ethics bill from the previous Congress to serve as the basis for a new reform measure.

Democratic leaders in the U.S. House of Representatives are using the Honest Leadership and Open Government bill as the basis for a the lobbying reform bill slated for review by the House Judiciary Committee this week, The Hill reported Wednesday.

U.S. Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md., the House majority leader, said the bill was brought back because it was campaigned on during the 2006 midterm elections.

However, some Democrats objected to the plan, some saying the measure goes too far in its reforms and some saying it fails to address the main root of the issue -- the need for politicians to raise millions to maintain their positions.

"I do know that members are very, very concerned about whether this deal will get us to where we would like to go," House Majority Whip James Clyburn, D-S.C., told The Hill. "We know we have to address this issue and everybody wants to but the only question is whether or not it gets us to where we want to be.