Jeb Bush Vows To Cut Gov’t Spending, Curb Lobbying

In a unique initiative, Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush has announced that he would reform the lobbying system in Washington by enacting strict guidelines to fix the issue of former lawmakers turning lobbyists. In a speech at Tallahassee near Florida, the former governor said he wants to stop ex-members of the House and Senate from becoming lobbyists until six years after they have left their job as law makers in Capitol.

Under the existing rules, House members can become lobbyists after one year and senators have to wait for two years. "If I am elected president, I will use all of my influence to enact into law an immediate, unequivocal six-year ban on lobbying — a full Senate term — for ex-members of the House and Senate," Bush said

Expanding Government

Giving out the rationale of curbing lobbying, Bush said the unrestrained growth of government is causing the growth of lobbyists, "Every time a lobbyist meets with any member of Congress, that should be reported online — every week, and on the member's official website." Bush insisted. He reiterated that cutting the expenditure of government will shrink the size of government and automatically curb lobbying as a big business in the nation's capital.

"It's the relentless expansion of government that made lobbying Washington's premier growth industry," Bush said. According to the presidential hopeful, spending on lobbying has grown more than 45 percent over the past decade and that translates into $12.5 million per member of Congress. Bush said, “restrain federal spending and bureaucratic meddling, and we'll disrupt the culture that thrives on big government."

At the same time, Washington Post in a report said many lobbyists are now actively funding Bush's presidential campaign. It said a top lobbying group has contributed $228,400 to the Republican hopeful and he was able to garner support from lobbyists in major companies including Microsoft, Verizon, Goldman Sachs, and Hewlett-Packard.

Lobby Against Iran Deal

Meanwhile, in another instance of lobbying, the pro-Israel group--American Israel Public Affairs Committee has formed a new lobby group to oppose the nuclear deal with Iran. Accordingly, the ‘Citizens for a Nuclear Free Iran’ will lobby with the mission of educating the public "about the dangers of the proposed Iran deal.”

The group’s spokesman Patrick Dorton said it will be a “sizable and significant national campaign on the flaws in the Iran deal.” Dorton said the lobby group will convince American citizens to oppose the deal and put pressure on U.S. law makers in the Congress and Senate.

AIPAC, one of the most powerful lobbying groups in the U.S. has been very articulate in voicing its concerns over the Iran deal. According to sources, AIPAC has allocated more than $20 million for ‘Citizens for a Nuclear Free Iran’ and has drawn up plans for advertising campaigns in 30 to 40 states.

(For feedback/comments, contact the writer at k.kumar@ibtimes.com.au)