Subject: Support Disclosure of Campaign Contribution "Bundled" by Lobbyists

May 22, 2007

Dear Congressman Farr:

The League of Women Voters urges you to support disclosure of campaign contributions "bundled" by lobbyists.

One of the key ways that lobbyists buy access to influence the legislative process is to deliver large sums of campaign money to members of Congress. Only the contributions actually from a lobbyist’s own funds must be disclosed. The much larger sums that lobbyists arrange or deliver – the sums they “bundle” together – need not be disclosed by the lobbyist who does the bundling. Representative Chris Van Hollen (D MD) will offer an amendment to the lobbying reform bill to require that lobbyists disclose their bundled contributions. The amendment does not restrict or limit bundling, it merely requires disclosure.

Thank you for your consideration.

Janet Brennan, President
LWV of the Monterey Peninsula