Common Cause Blog :: ethics task force

House ethics: You snooze, you lose

By Kirstin Ellison
Posted on Thu Apr 12, 2007 at 11:13:28 AM EST

House Democrats want to be seen as the standard-bearers of ethics reform in government - but their efforts seemed to have stalled somewhere after the "100 hours" ended.

From today's Post:

The promise to end the "culture of corruption" they said developed in Washington under Republican rule helped propel Democrats into the majority in November elections. But after a promising start, lawmakers appear to be backing off a proposal for an independent entity to investigate ethics charges...after weeks of meetings, a House task force studying the issue says the group has not begun discussing a plan and will probably miss its May 1 reporting deadline.

Let the excuses begin! There's something called an "options menu" out there...and this gem from task force Chairman Rep. Michael Capuano (D-MA):

"We were asked to consider whether there is a need for, a desire for this," Capuano said. "The answer we might come up with is, 'No, we don't need one.'"

Pardon me? Did I misread that? After DeLay, Ney, Cunningham, Jefferson, and Foley, they can't possibly delude themselves that the current ethics process works and doesn't need outside enforcement.

Or can they?

"We've got to do something or be wildly ridiculed," said a staffer working on the issue. "But members are always going to be worried about giving up some of their power."

Follow me inside to read what the watchdogs are saying, including a quote from our own Sarah Dufendach.

House ethics: You snooze, you lose

By Kirstin Ellison
Posted on Thu Apr 12, 2007 at 11:13:28 AM EST

Click "Read More" for the rest...
General News :: Entry Link :: Read More :: Comment
Tags: ethics in government, ethics task force, House Ethics Committee, Michael Capuano, Tom DeLay, Bob Ney, William Jefferson, Duke Cunningham, Mark Foley (all tags)

House ethics: You snooze, you lose

By Kirstin EllisonPosted on Thu Apr 12, 2007 at 11:13:28 AM EST

Click "Read More" for the rest...General News :: Entry Link :: Read More :: Comment Tags: ethics in government, ethics task force, House Ethics Committee, Michael Capuano, Tom DeLay, Bob Ney, William Jefferson, Duke Cunningham, Mark Foley (all tags)

By Kirstin Ellison
Posted on Thu Apr 12, 2007 at 11:13:28 AM EST

Click "Read More" for the rest...
General News :: Entry Link :: Read More :: Comment
Tags: ethics in government, ethics task force, House Ethics Committee, Michael Capuano, Tom DeLay, Bob Ney, William Jefferson, Duke Cunningham, Mark Foley (all tags)