Ethics Office in House Stays Alive Under GOP

[Freddie Stubbs]

Source: The Wall Street Journal

By Brody Mullins

Washington Wire reported yesterday on the rules changes House Republicans plan when they take over in a few days, but they also made a significant statement with something they did not do. They decided against eliminating the oft-criticized Office of Congressional Ethics.

For the last several years, the office has served at the House’s independent ethics board, regularly stirring up trouble for lawmakers and conducting public probes into matters that used to be kept under wraps.

Democrats created the Office of Congressional Ethics after they took control of Congress in 2007, saying they wanted to help clean up Congress and make the ethics process more transparent. If the office believes it has found violations, its job is to recommend a formal investigation by the traditional House ethics committee.

That’s exactly what the office did, probing a variety of alleged wrongdoing by lawmakers in both parties including Rep. Maxine Waters (D., Calif.). That didn’t make it popular among House members.

Read more: http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2010/12/23/ethics-office-in-house-stays-alive-under-gop/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+wsj%2Fwashwire%2Ffeed+%28WSJ.com%3A+Washington+Wire%29&utm_content=Twitter

[Joanne98]

1. Well that's a surprise.

[EFerrari]

7. I pointed out in the comments section (no reg)

that any ethics office operating under Porter Goss was a joke.

But that's just my bad attitude.

[tosh]

2. Kick and invisible rec....

:eyes:

[louis-t]

3. I promise you all now....

they will not be investigating repugs. Not one. Ever.

[T Wolf]

4. The ONLY reason the pukes kept this Office is to use it against dems in the coming congress, when

they will totally control it actions.

They might have had a little concern if they eliminated something supposedly monitoring "ethics" - that would sound bad but they have weathered bad press before. It's easy when you control the press.

But everyone has to know that this Office will be used in a partisan manner starting in January.

[freshwest]

9. Absolutely. Darrell Issa party time.

We'll see investigations on subjects as mundane as dust bunnies.

[Harry Hope]

5. "Ethics" Office? In a Republican congress? Doesn't Sound right

[Harry Hope]

6. They're gonna another name

How 'bout "witchhunt" office?

[EFerrari]

8. For the record: Porter Goss. Porter Goss. Porter Goss. n/t