Paul Ryan on Ethics

Summary

In early 2006, Congressman Ryan strongly supported the Lobbying Accountability and Transparency Act which was a Republican bill that contained many of the provisions passed a year later in the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act which Congressman Ryan also supported.

Several times throughout his career in the House, Congressman Ryan has called for earmark reform. In 2006 he helped author and push through a resolution to force any piece of legislation that passed the House to include a list of earmarks and the name of the representative that requested it. In 2008, he put forth legislation to call for a one year ban on all earmarks.

In 2010, Congressman Ryan opposed the DISCLOSE Act. In opposing the legislation, asserting that it was not constitutional. He also stated that if we want to reduce the role of special interests groups in government, we should combat the overreach and influence of government rather than combat the Constitution itself. He explained this by stating that by limiting the government's influence over our lives, we can reduce the flow of money into politics. 

Lobbying Accountability and Transparency Act

In May of 2006, Congressman Ryan issued a press statement noting his support for the Lobbying Accountability and Transparency Act.

Support for Earmark Reform

In September of 2006, Congressman Ryan released a press statement noting his support for a rules change that he co-authored that would require a website to show the representative that declared an earmark.

Support for an Earmark Ban

In May of 2008, Congressman Ryan issued a press statement noting that he was proposing legislation that would place a one year moratorium on earmarks.

Opposition to the DISCLOSE Act

On June 24, 2010 Congressman Ryan released a press statement noting his opposition to the DISCLOSE Act and his view that the legislation was unconstitutional. 

Support for the STOCK Act

In February of 2012, Congressman Ryan issued a press statement noting his support for the STOCK Act. 

Ryan Statement on STOCK Act

February 9, 2012
After the passage of the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge (STOCK) Act by a vote of 417-2, Wisconsin’s First District Congressman Paul Ryan issued the following statement:

“Insider trading should never occur and should never be tolerated. This is why I was pleased to support the House amendment to the STOCK Act, which represents a bipartisan effort to preserve the public trust by increasing the oversight and transparency associated with financial disclosures.”

Voting Record

The DISCLOSE Act

In June of 2010, the House voted to pass the Democracy is Strengthened by Casting Light on Spending in Elections Act or the DISCLOSE Act. It passed 219-206. Paul Ryan voted against the DISCLOSE Act.

Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007

In July of 2007, the House voted to pass the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007 by a 411-8 margin. The legislation enacted ethics rules for Congress and lobbying. Paul Ryan voted in favor of the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007.

Rules Change on Earmarks

This resolution made a rules change that require all reported bills and conference reports considered in the House to include a list of earmarks and the name of the representative requesting each earmark. This applied not only to appropriations bills but also authorization and tax legislation. It passed by a margin of 245-171, but was not brought up for a vote in the Senate. Paul Ryan voted in favor of the resolution.

Lobbying Accountability and Transparency Act

This is a series of ethics reforms put forth by the Republicans in response to the newly elected Democratic majority. It was never brought up for a vote in the Senate. Paul Ryan voted in favor of the Lobbying Accountability and Transparency Act.

Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002

In 2002 Congress passed the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 which is better known by the names of its main sponsors John McCain and Russ Feingold. The legislation made changes to the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to limit the use of "soft money." It passed the House 240-189 in February of 2002. Paul Ryan voted against the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 (McCain-Feingold).

Sponsored and Cosponsored Legislation

Session-110; Bill Number-H Res 169; Earmark Disclosure - Cosponsor

Amending the Rules of the House of Representatives to require that the lists of earmarks be made available to the general public on the Internet.

Session-110; Bill Number-H R 3738; Earmark Reform Act 2007 - Cosponsor

To amend the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to set a cap on allocated funds for earmarks.

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