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| Politics Forum Index » Democrats (House) Politics Forum » The House Ethics Committee at Work... |
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| Leroy N. Soetoro... |
 Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2009 8:53 pm |
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Guest
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http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/31/opinion/31sat3.html
A computer gaffe has revealed some of the secretive workings of the House
ethics committee, including preliminary inquiries into complaints against
19 members and some of their staff. The accidental disclosure, made by a
staffer who was later fired, sent a bipartisan jolt through Congress,
which is already wary about new and long overdue mandates for greater
ethical transparency.
It’s important to stress that none of the disclosed inquiries are
conclusive or indicate whether any member will be charged with misdeeds.
Intended or not, the reported signs of life on the ostensibly moribund
ethics committee are an encouraging sign that Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s
decision to create a separate, quasi-independent Office of Congressional
Ethics has had an effect.
The office is charged with making discrete preliminary inquiries into
complaints and forwarding any recommendations for fuller investigation to
the ethics panel. That’s exactly what happened in the ethics committee’s
decision this week to look into whether Representative Maxine Waters of
California played an unfair role in getting bailout money for a bank where
her husband had been a director.
Ms. Waters denies violating ethics, as does Representative Laura
Richardson of California, the subject of a separate investigation into
whether she failed to disclose loan and foreclosure dealings.
The data mishap confirmed that two inquiries remain as glaringly
unfinished business: the controversial financial dealings of
Representative Charles Rangel, the Ways and Means Committee chairman, and
the clique of defense appropriators and their cozy relationship with deep-
pocketed and well-rewarded defense contractors. Lawmakers understandably
worry about the political chaff from greater transparency. They should use
their angst to prod the committee to do its job, promptly and thoroughly,
and present the public with credible results.
--
Nancy Pelosi, Democrat criminal, accessory before and after the fact to
Rangel's tax evasion. |
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