John Cornyn on Ethics

Summary

While in office Senator Cornyn has been active on four issues related to ethics: openness relating to the Freedom of Information Act, access for citizens to government spending, lobbying reform, and a waiting period for legislation. In 2005, he cosponsored legislation to reform the FOIA to require Congress to explicitly and clearly state its intention to provide for statutory exemptions to FOIA in new legislative proposals.

Senator Cornyn has supportive of ethics reform passed after the Democrats assumed control of congress in 2007. He stated that the Senate had passed similar lobbying and ethics reform legislation the previous year, but it had not passed the House. However, by August of 2007 the Senator had become critical of actions taken by the Democrats and was claiming that the House leadership had stripped the legislation of it's ability to provide transparency. He noted one instance where a rule requiring that every congressional spending earmark and its sponsor be disclosed before voting on the legislation was rewritten to allow the Democratic leader and the appropriations committee chairman to ‘certify’ that a piece of legislation meets the rule without having to disclose it to the public. 

During the health care debates of 2009 and 2010, Senator Cornyn was critical of promises broken by the Democrats to provide time for the American people to see legislation before it was voted on in Congress. He called for a 72 hour waiting period and CBO scoring before any bill could be brought up to a vote.

 

Openness Legislation

In February of 2005, Senator Cornyn released a press statement noting his support for legislation that he had recently cosponsored to create a more open government by reforming the Freedom of Information Act.

"This reform legislation was created from the belief that FOIA establishes a presumption of openness," said Cornyn, who in 2001 was presented with the James Madison Award for his efforts to promote open government by the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas. " Open government is one of the most basic requirements of any healthy democracy. It allows for taxpayers to see where their money is going; it permits the honest exchange of information that ensures government accountability; and it upholds the ideal that government never rules without the consent of the governed."

 

Lobbying and Ethics Reform

In January of 2007, Senator Cornyn released a press statement noting his support for the Legislative Transparency and Accountability Act of 2007.

 

Ethics Reform Bill

In January of 2007, Senator Cornyn released a press statement noting his support for the passage of the Ethics Reform Bill that the Democrats put forth when they took over Congress after the 2006 elections.

In August of 2007, Senator Cornyn released a statement expressing disappointment in legislation and stated that work was being done behind closed doors to strip the legislation of meaningful reform.

“Unfortunately, in recent months, the Democratic leadership has worked behind closed doors to strip this legislation of the transparency and disclosure taxpayers deserve. In January, we voted for a sensible rule requiring that every congressional spending earmark and its sponsor be disclosed before voting on the legislation. The Democratic Leader’s new bill rewrites this rule to allow himself and the appropriations committee chairman to ‘certify’ that a piece of legislation meets the rule without having to disclose it to the public. This is a perfect example of the fox guarding the henhouse.  

 

Federal Spending and Taxpayer Accessibility Act of 2008 (FSTAA)

In January of 2008, Senator Cornyn released a press statement noting new legislation he was proposing to provide more transparency in spending titled Federal Spending and Taxpayer Accessibility Act of 2008 (FSTAA).

Background on the Federal Spending and Taxpayer Accessibility Act of 2008 (FSTAA):

• Based on the work of Texas Comptroller Susan Combs and the State of Texas.
• Expands upon the national web site, www.usaspending.gov, which allows taxpayers to search Federal contracts and grants.
• Directs the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to create a web-based searchable engine that allows the public to take a close look at how certain federal agencies are spending taxpayer dollars.
• Could serve as the starting point for a comprehensive database of all Federal expenditures.

 

72 Hour Waiting Period

During the 2009 health care debate, Senator Cornyn joined other legislatures in calling for a 72 hour wait period and a CBO scoring before any legislation is voted on. The legislation failed to pass.  

"This hide-and-vote game must come to a stop-especially under the leadership of a President who promised transparency would be a ‘touchstone' of his Administration. I urge the Senate Majority Leader to bring this bill to the floor for a vote as quickly as possible to put an end to the practice of rushing legislation through Congress and past the American public."

 

Official Website Statements

 

Voting Record

The STOCK Act - Executive Branch

In February of 2012, the Senate voted on an amendment to the STOCK Act to to ensure that the reporting requirements set forth in the STOCK Act apply to the executive branch and independent agencies. The measure passed 81-18. John Cornyn voted in favor of the measure.

The STOCK Act - Non-Public Info

In February of 2012 the Senate voted on an amendment to the STOCK act that would require all Congress to certify that they were not trading on non-public information. The measure failed 37-61 with most Republicans supporting it and most Democrats opposing it. John Cornyn voted in favor of the legislation.

The STOCK Act

In February of 2012, the Senate passed legislation which expressed their view that insider trading laws do indeed apply to Congress. The legislation passed 96-3. John Cornyn voted in favor of the STOCK Act.

On year Moratorium on Earmarks

In March of 2008, the senate voted on an earmark put forth by Senator Jim DeMint of South Carolina. The amendment would have enacted a one year moratorium on earmarks for the 2009 fiscal year. The measure failed to pass in a 29-71 vote. John Cornyn voted in favor of the one year earmark moratorium.

Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007

In January of 2007, the Senate voted to pass the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007 by a 96-2 margin. The legislation enacted ethics rules for Congress and lobbying. John Cornyn voted in favor of the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007.

 

Sponsored and Cosponsored Legislation

Session-111; Bill Number-S Res 307; A resolution to require that all legislative matters be available and fully scored by CBO 72 hours before consideration by any subcommittee or committee of the Senate or on the floor of the Senate - Cosponsor

Amends Rule XXVI (Committee Procedure) of the Standing Rules of the Senate to make it out of order in a subcommittee or committee to proceed to any legislative matter (except perfecting amendments) unless the legislative matter and a final budget scoring for it by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) have been publicly available on the Internet, on the official committee and CBO websites, in searchable form 72 hours before proceeding (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays except when the Senate is in session on such a day).

Session-111; Bill Number-S 3335; Earmark Transparency Act - Cosponsor

Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to require the Secretary of the Senate, the Senate Sergeant of Arms, and the Clerk of the House of Representatives to begin the development of a single free public searchable website that specifies certain identifying information relating to each request by Members of Congress for congressionally directed spending items or limited tax or tariff benefits (congressional earmarks).

Session-111; Bill Number-S 1772; A bill to require that all legislative matters be available and fully scored by CBO 72 hours before consideration by any subcommittee or committee of the Senate or on the floor of the Senate - Cosponsor

Amends Rule XXVI (Committee Procedure) of the Standing Rules of the Senate to make it out of order in a subcommittee or committee to proceed to any legislative matter unless the legislative matter and a final budget scoring for it by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) have been publicly available on the Internet, on the official committee and CBO websites, in searchable form 72 hours before proceeding (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays except when the Senate is in session on such a day).

Session-111; Bill Number-S 2990; A bill to establish an earmark moratorium for fiscal years 2010 and 2011 - Cosponsor

Makes it out of order in the Senate to consider any of the following legislation that includes a congressional earmark or limited tax or tariff benefit: (1) a bill or joint resolution reported by any committee; (2) a Senate bill or joint resolution not reported by committee; (3) a conference report; (4) a floor amendment to a bill or joint resolution; or (5) an amendment between the two chambers.

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