Hey everyone.  I'm Tom, an intern with Common Cause, and I just wanted to make note of recent events involving Representative Mollohan.

It's easy to get riled up and simply frustrated with the whole issue.  For those joining us late, here's the situation: while we've watched the Randy "Duke" Cunningham, Jack Abramoff, and Tom Delay scandals unfold, the House Committee on Standards and Official Conduct, better known as the House ethics committee, has been a no-show during the 109th Congress, mired in partisan bickering and maneuvering.

On April 21, Rep. Alan Mollohan (D-WV) announced he would be stepping down from his post as the Democrat Chairman of the ethics committee in response to allegations that he abused his post on the House Appropriations committee by allegedly funneling earmarked money to nonprofits that he set up.