Obama says Congress should stop campaign bundling by lobbyists

President Obama took aim at K Street in his State of the Union Tuesday night, calling on Congress to limit the campaign fundraising activities of lobbyists.

"Let’s make sure people who bundle campaign contributions for Congress can’t lobby Congress, and vice versa — an idea that has bipartisan support, at least outside of Washington," Obama said.  

Bundlers help gather campaign contributions from their networks of friends and family and often enjoy access and influence with the candidates they bundle for.

A fact sheet the White House released with Obama's speech fleshed out the proposal.

"Prohibit lobbyists from bundling, and bundlers from lobbying: The President called for prohibiting lobbyists from fundraising in support of federal candidates they have lobbied within the past two years, and likewise prohibiting campaign bundlers from lobbying federal officeholders for whom they have fundraised within the past two years," the fact sheet reads.

GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney has reported receiving close to $1 million in campaign contributions bundled by lobbyists so far, according to Federal Election Commission records. 

Obama has barred registered lobbyists from contributing to or bundling for his reelection campaign, a policy he also followed during his 2008 run.

The provision to have federally-registered lobbyists report their campaign bundling activities was part of the 2007 ethics law.