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CREW

citizens for responsibility and ethics in washington

August 17, 2011

Honorable Harry Reid Majority Leader U.S. Senate S-221 U.S. Capitol Washington, D.C. 20510 Honorable Mitch McConnell Minority Leader U.S. Senate S-230 U.S. Capitol Washington, D.C. 20510 VIA FAX

Honorable John Boehner Speaker of the House U.S. House ofRepresentatives H-232 U.S. Capitol Washington, D.C. 20515 Honorable Nancy Pelosi Minority Leader U.S. House ofRepresentatives H-204 U.S. Capitol Washington, D.C. 20515

Dear Majority Leader Reid, Speaker Boehner, Minority Leaders McConnell and Pelosi: Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) urges you to require members of the Joint Committee on Deficit Reduction, commonly referred to as the "super committee," to suspend all fundraising activities for the duration of the committee's existence. The solicitation of campaign contributions by super committee members threatens to severely undermine the integrity of the committee's work. While this is an issue for all members of the super committee, it is even more significant for Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), the chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, specifically charged with fundraising for Senate Democrats. The issue of money in politics is always of public concern, but is heightened here because of the unusually powerful role the super committee will play in determining which federally financed programs should be saved and which should be jettisoned. In fact, in the short time since you appointed members ofthe super committee, there already have been reports of at least one fundraising solicitation explicitly noting the opportunity to meet with a super committee member. 1 That some members hail from states with major industries that may be impacted negatively by budget negotiations, such as defense and health care, presents an even greater threat that fundraising activities will result in undue influence on and exploitation of the work of the super committee.

Alexander Bolton, Supercommittee Member Rep. Becerra to be Feted by Lobbyists at DC Fundraiser, The Hill, August 11,2011.

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Honorable Harry Reid Honorable Mitch McConnell Honorable John Boehner Honorable Nancy Pelosi August 17, 2011 Page Two The concern about super committee members' fundraising is evidently shared by at least two senators, David Vitter (R-LA) and Dean Heller (R-NV), who have introduced a bill to require super committee members to disclose campaign contributions of $1,000 or more within 48 hours. 2 As Sen. Vitter said, "Given the important work this committee will be doing over the next four months, it's just plain good government for the public to know what special interests are trying to influence the committee."3 Super committee members, particularly those with direct fundraising responsibilities for their political parties, should immediately be released from those duties while budget negotiations are in effect. Otherwise, fundraising events attended by these members will become epicenters of intense lobbying campaigns by every lobbyist, trade association, corporation and union seeking to influence the outcome of super committee negotiations. Surely, other members of Congress could handle fundraising efforts for the short period the super committee will be in operation. The establishment of the super committee allows special interests to focus with unprecedented precision on twelve policymakers with unprecedented authority to affect spending cuts and revenue in virtually all sectors of our economy. As congressional leaders, you have the opportunity to instill confidence that any agreements the super committee reaches were made in the interests of the American people, not special interests.

Executive Director cc: Honorable Max Baucus Honorable John Kerry Honorable Jon Kyl Honorable Patty Murray Honorable Rob Portman Honorable Pat Toomey Honorable Xavier Becerra Honorable Dave Camp Honorable James Clyburn Honorable Jeb Hensarling Honorable Fred Upton Honorable Chris Van Hollen

S. 1498 (I 12th Cong.). Press Release, Office of Sen. David Vitter, Vitter Introduces Bill to Bring Transparency to Super Committee Members' Campaign Cash, August 2, 2011.

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