Bill Overview
Title: Ethics Reform Act
Description: This bill establishes a number of ethics requirements for members of Congress and the President and Vice President. Specifically, the bill prohibits members of Congress from buying or selling individual securities other than widely held investment funds; prohibits former members of Congress from engaging in certain compensated lobbying activities; requires the Internal Revenue Service to disclose tax return information of candidates for President and Vice President; and prohibits the President, Vice President, Cabinet, and their immediate family members from raising funds from certain foreign entities. The bill also prohibits contributions or donations by foreign nationals in connection with state or local ballot initiatives or referenda.
Sponsors: Sen. Sasse, Ben [R-NE]
Target Audience
Population: Current and future members of Congress, the President, Vice President, and their immediate families
Estimated Size: 600
- The bill affects ethical practices and financial activities of members of Congress, including requirements for disclosure and limitations on financial transactions.
- Current and future members of Congress, the President, Vice President, and their immediate family members will be directly impacted in terms of compliance.
- Candidates for President and Vice President will be impacted by requirements for tax disclosure, affecting how their personal information is publicly managed.
- Citizens will be affected by ensuring more transparency and potentially by the change in lobbying practices, which can indirectly influence policy outcomes.
- The bill also affects foreign nationals by restricting their financial influence on state and local ballot initiatives in the US.
- Government transparency and ethical standards can have wide ripple effects, potentially influencing public trust and engagement with the government.
Reasoning
- The majority of the U.S. population will not be directly impacted by the policy since it targets a very small, specific group - members of Congress, the President, Vice President, their immediate families, and political candidates.
- The general citizenry might notice indirect effects in terms of improved transparency and reduced corruption, potentially influencing their perception of government effectiveness.
- The budget and impact of this policy are focused on ensuring compliance and implementing the necessary transparency measures.
Simulated Interviews
U.S. Senator (Washington, D.C.)
Age: 52 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 1/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy limits my ability to manage my personal financial portfolio.
- Hopefully this will enhance public trust, but it will change the way I and my colleagues need to plan financially.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
State Legislature Member (Harrisburg, PA)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Changes at the federal level might influence how we operate at the state level.
- While I'm not personally affected, this could change the dynamics around lobbying.
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 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Lobbyist (Houston, TX)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This significantly impacts my business since former Congress members can't lobby as freely.
- It changes my career outlook significantly.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 4 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Financial Analyst (New York, NY)
Age: 32 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy doesn't directly affect me, but I see the value in transparency and reduced foreign influences.
- It might change the dynamics of political donations.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Software Developer (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 28 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy is of general interest, and I support any move toward clearer governance.
- I don't see a direct impact on my personal life or profession.
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 |
Former Presidential Candidate (Chicago, IL)
Age: 48 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The requirement for tax return disclosure is something I support as a means to maintain trust.
- I believe this is a necessary step for presidential integrity.
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 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
CEO of a tech company (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 37 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- We are being careful to ensure compliance with all foreign contribution rules.
- Though the policy doesn't directly affect us yet, any slip could impact business operations.
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 |
Political Donor (Miami, FL)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The restrictions on foreign contributions might alter campaign dynamics, but we comply with all regulations.
- Interested to see if this changes the transparency in fund collections.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
High School Teacher (St. Louis, MO)
Age: 56 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy provides a real-world example for my students about government accountability.
- I appreciate any measures that improve ethical governance.
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 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Vice President of a lobbying firm (Raleigh, NC)
Age: 47 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy limits my firm's operations and potentially reduces our client base.
- We'll need to adapt our strategies moving forward with more restrictions in place.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $50000000 (Low: $30000000, High: $80000000)
Year 2: $50000000 (Low: $30000000, High: $80000000)
Year 3: $50000000 (Low: $30000000, High: $80000000)
Year 5: $25000000 (Low: $15000000, High: $40000000)
Year 10: $15000000 (Low: $10000000, High: $20000000)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- Compliance enforcement may require collaboration between multiple government agencies, including the IRS and ethics committees.
- Long-term impacts include potential shifts in political culture and public trust.
- Technological needs for tracking and disclosure will have upfront and ongoing costs.