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Contact: Maggie Duncan
202-263-1332

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 14, 2008
www.lwv.org

Washington, D.C. – Congressional enactment of far-reaching new ethics and lobbying reform was a highlight of the first session of the 110th Congress according to the non-partisan League of Women Voters of the United States. The League today, on its 88th birthday, released its listing of key "good government" votes in the House of Representatives and the Senate in 2007.

"Voters need to know how the people they elect to represent them vote on critical issues," said national League president Mary G. Wilson. "Ethics, campaign finance and global climate change are just a few of the important government reforms voters feel strongly about. This new League resource allows citizens to look up their representatives and see how they acted on key issues and legislation."

The League’s listing includes nine Senate votes and six House votes on a range of issues, including children’s health care, civil liberties, election reform and voting rights for the District of Columbia. It also provides a list of each member of Congress and his or her votes on issues that are priorities for the League and its thousands of members and supporters across the country. The list of key votes is available online.

The U.S. Congress reacted swiftly and resoundingly to the loud calls from voters for reform following the scandals and ethics breaches that dominated the news and federal elections in 2006. The historic changes require disclosure of campaign contributions collected or arranged ("bundled") by lobbyists, limit special-interest-funded travel and gifts to legislators, and require disclosure of "earmarks" directing federal spending to a legislator’s pet projects. "The critical remaining ethics issue is to create an independent ethics enforcement process in the House," said Wilson. "The League calls on the House leadership to move ahead quickly on this essential reform," she said.

"As we celebrate the 88th anniversary of the League, our members are hard at work in over 850 communities, urging government officials at all levels to act responsively to the voting public," Wilson concluded. "This new tool provides Americans with a quick and easy way to see whether their representatives are holding up their end of the bargain here in our nation’s capital."

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The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan political organization, encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy. Membership in the League is open to men and women of all ages. With more than 86 years of experience and 850 local and state affiliates, the League is one of America’s most trusted grassroots organizations.