Solutions to the Swamp

Actions the executive branch could take to drain the swamp:

The Trump administration should revise executive order 13770 to address weaknesses that (a) allow individuals who were registered lobbyists in the preceding year into his administration, (b) permit executive branch officials to lobby agencies other than those for which they worked once they leave the administration, (c) allow former political appointees to lobby an “any agency process for rulemaking, adjudication, or licensing,” and (d) allow former government officials to label themselves as “consultants” or “advisors” to avoid being covered by the executive order
Reduce the number of former lobbyists appointed to key agency positions and articulate stronger cooling-off standards to ensure they are not in a position to unduly benefit former employers

Actions the legislative branch could take to drain the swamp:

Pass legislation to expand the cooling-off period between when government officials leave their position and when they can lobby
Pass legislation to amend the Lobbying Disclosure Act, dealing with “shadow lobbying” to ensure that individuals who are engaged in significant lobbying activities are required to register as lobbyists and to provide the public with more accurate information regarding those activities
Pass legislation to create a cooling-off period between when a lobbyist or lobbying firm can lobby a member of Congress and when they can contribute to that member’s political committees
Pass legislation to prohibit lobbyists from bundling contributions for candidates or engaging in fundraising on behalf of candidates

Actions the executive branch could take to drain the swamp:

Nominate ambassadors based on merit and experience, not their donations
Issue a new executive order that prohibits Cabinet officials from engaging in campaign fundraising while serving
Release White House visitor logs
Convene a blue-ribbon panel of retired judges, law enforcement, and election law experts to publicly recommend qualified individuals to serve on the Federal Election Commission (FEC) and then nominate new commissioners committed to enforcing the law
Appoint IRS and Treasury officials that will address the flood of dark money pouring into our elections

Actions the legislative branch could take to drain the swamp:

Pass legislation to require all bundlers to be disclosed, not just bundler-lobbyists
Pass legislation to incentivize small-dollar contributions so elected officials spend less time raising money from wealthy interests
Pass legislation to meaningfully reform the FEC to ensure that it is a working agency that can enforce the law.
Pass legislation that clarifies what counts as coordination and requires increased transparency of transfers between dark money groups so the original source of the funds is made public, as is proposed by the Political Accountability and Transparency Act (H.R. 679)

Actions the executive branch could take to drain the swamp:

Reinvigorate the Office of Government Ethics (OGE) by appointing a director who is committed to robust enforcement of ethics rules and standards
Ensure that those found in violation of the Hatch Act receive appropriate penalties
Extend the Ethics in Government Act conflict of interest provisions to the president and vice president
Require administration appointees to abide by existing laws covering divestiture and require those not in compliance to step aside until their actions are certified by the OGE

Actions the legislative branch could take to drain the swamp:

Pass legislation to strengthen the OGE including enhanced enforcement capability and improved transparency for executive branch ethics enforcement actions and regulations
Pass new congressional rules to expressly prohibit the assignment of committee chairmanships and other assignments based on fundraising activities
Create an Office of Senate Ethics as a companion to the House’s Office of Congressional Ethics to ensure more transparency and improved enforcement of Senate ethics rules
Pass legislation to ensure leadership PACs and other political action committees are included in the same prohibitions against personal use of campaign funds that cover authorized campaign committees

All photos from Getty Images.