For anyone who hasn't had the pleasure of hearing of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), I'll just say that when they released a report last year identifying the "13 Most Corrupt" Members of Congress, it made big waves in the reform community -- and on the Hill.
Well, they're at it again, and are shooting even higher this time around. CREW has just released it's 2006 report of the 20 Most Corrupt Members, plus 5 to keep an eye on. Some on the list are under active investigation, while other names have been batted around for months (even years) in connection to the Abramoff and Mitchell Wade scandals.
This list of the dishonorable and investigation-worthy includes such familiar names as Sens. Burns and Frist, and Reps. Harris, Jefferson, Mollohan, Doolittle, Sweeney, Pombo, and Sherwood -- but there are also a few surprises. I'm not sure I've even ever heard of Reps. Ken Calvert (R-CA) or Gary Miller (R-CA), but I can promise you that as soon as I finish writing this I'll be heading over to CREW's website to find out what they're accused of doing.
The money quote (emphasis mine):
"CREW created this exhaustive go-to guide on corruption in Congress to expose and hold accountable those members of Congress who believe they are above the law," Melanie Sloan, executive director of CREW said today. "The officials named in this report have chosen to enrich themselves and their families and friends by abusing the power of their office, rather than work for the public good. Their collective corruption affects all Americans."
It certainly does. Let's hope all elected officials sit up and take notice.
