Bill Overview
Title: NOPE Act
Description: This bill increases to five years the post-employment lobbying ban on a former Member of Congress. The bill also addresses Members' salaries and travel expenses. The bill withholds the salaries of Members of a congressional chamber that has not agreed to a budget resolution for FY2022 by April 15, 2021. Salaries are withheld from April 16, 2021, until the chamber agrees to a budget resolution or the last day of the 117th Congress, whichever is earlier. The bill eliminates automatic pay adjustments for Members of Congress. The bill prohibits the use of funds appropriated or otherwise made available for the official travel of a Member of Congress or other officer or employee of the legislative branch for airline accommodations that are not coach-class accommodations. This prohibition shall not apply to an individual if the use would be permitted for an employee of an agency subject to specified federal regulations for temporary duty travel allowances.
Sponsors: Rep. O'Halleran, Tom [D-AZ-1]
Target Audience
Population: Members of Congress and legislative employees
Estimated Size: 2535
- The bill targets former Members of Congress by extending the post-employment lobbying ban to five years.
- It impacts current Members of Congress by implementing salary withholding if a budget resolution is not agreed upon by a specific date.
- Members of Congress are also impacted by the elimination of automatic pay adjustments.
- The bill affects travel accommodations for Members of Congress and other legislative branch employees by prohibiting non-coach airline accommodations unless permissible under specific regulations.
- The general public may have an indirect impact as legislative efficiency and appropriations related to Congressional travel could change.
Reasoning
- The NOPE Act primarily affects Members of Congress and their staff by changing rules around lobbying, salary, and travel expenses.
- Given the restrictions on travel and lobbying, the policy might deter some behaviors but has minimal direct impact on the general public.
- The small target population of 2,535 Members and employees means the budget allows for targeted interventions rather than widespread public campaigns.
- The general public may feel a symbolic benefit from policy transparency and accountability, but this is harder to quantify.
Simulated Interviews
Former Congressman (Washington D.C.)
Age: 56 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy feels punitive for those of us who worked hard and want to contribute in other ways, like lobbying for important causes.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 6 |
Political advisor (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Travel restrictions are inconvenient. They make managing demanding work schedules harder, especially with non-stop flights.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Legislative staff (New York, NY)
Age: 39 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Withholding salaries could push for timely budget resolutions, but it adds stress to an already high-pressure environment.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Constituent (Chicago, IL)
Age: 27 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I see this policy as a step towards greater transparency, but it doesn't directly affect my daily life.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 4 |
Retired government worker (Austin, TX)
Age: 62 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think emphasizing coach travel makes sense, showing Congress shares normal travel burdens like the rest of us.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Local Government Official (Frankfort, KY)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This seems like a symbolic move that doesn't directly enhance my work, but it might encourage Congress to act faster on budgets.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Journalist (Miami, FL)
Age: 33 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy promotes accountability, but it's more of a headline than a game-changer at large.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Teacher (Bismarck, ND)
Age: 57 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I appreciate efforts to hold Congress accountable, though it ultimately doesn't change classroom realities.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
NGO worker (Seattle, WA)
Age: 46 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The extended lobbying ban is beneficial for reducing conflicts of interest, aligning with my work objectives.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Research Analyst (Boston, MA)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's a small step in aligning congressional accountability with public interest, but I hope for more comprehensive reforms.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $1000000 (Low: $500000, High: $2000000)
Year 2: $1000000 (Low: $500000, High: $2000000)
Year 3: $1000000 (Low: $500000, High: $2000000)
Year 5: $1000000 (Low: $500000, High: $2000000)
Year 10: $1000000 (Low: $500000, High: $2000000)
Year 100: $1000000 (Low: $500000, High: $2000000)
Key Considerations
- The policy introduces a longer lobbying ban, which could impact former Members' career paths.
- Salary withholding might pressure legislative efficiency but also might complicate retention and recruitment of Members of Congress.
- Administrative efforts required to enforce travel accommodations compliance and manage budget impacts.