House Ethics Committee - things the GOP want you to forget

[Solly Mack]

How Much "Ethics" Can We Expect from a Hastert stacked "Ethics" Committee?



Congress Passes New Ethics Rules

"The 109th Congress convened for the first time on Tuesday, and passed a new rule making it harder to pursue ethics probes of members of Congress."

CREW Statement on House Ethics Committee Rules

"ETHICS COMMITTEE” HAS BECOME AN OXYMORON. RATHER THAN
EFFECTIVELY POLICING MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON
STANDARDS OF OFFICIAL CONDUCT IS NOW A LAUNDROMAT FOR ETHICS
VIOLATIONS – A MEMBER WALKS INTO THE COMMITTEE SOILED BY
ALLEGATIONS OF MISCONDUCT AND WALKS OUT CLEAN AS A WHISTLE BY A
COMMITTEE THAT WHITEWASHES EVEN THE MOST EGREGIOUS CONDUCT.

FRANKLY, THE EFFORTS OF THE ETHICS COMMITTEE LAST CONGRESS WERE
PATHETIC – THE COMMITTEE FOUND THAT MAJORITY LEADER TOM DELAY
TRIED TO BRIBE FORMER CONG. NICK SMITH TO CHANGE HIS VOTE ON THE
MEDICARE BILL, THAT MR. DELAY ACTED INAPPROPRIATELY WITH RESPECT TO
WESTAR ENERGY COMPANY, AND THAT MR. DELAY INAPPROPRIATELY USED HIS
INFLUENCE WITH THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION TO TRACK DOWN
MISSING TEXAS LEGISLATORS. AND THE PENALTY FOR ALL OF THESE
VIOLATIONS – MERE ADMONISHMENT. SOMETHING SO MINOR THAT MR. DELAY
REPEATEDLY SAID THAT THE ETHICS COMMITTEE HAD VINDICATED HIM."


GOP to Reverse Ethics Rule Blocking New DeLay Probe

"Republicans touched off a political uproar in January by changing a rule that had required the ethics committee to continue considering a complaint against a House member if there was a deadlock between the committee's five Republicans and five Democrats. The January change reversed this, calling for automatic dismissal of an ethics complaint when a deadlock occurs."

So a simple vote down party lines would have resulted in a dismissal of a complaint. All the GOP had to do was to stick together and any Republican House member up on a complaint would be free and clear.

House Flip-Flops On Ethics Rules

"Rep. Louise Slaughter, D-N.Y. countered, "When they thought no one was looking, they passed a package that effectively neutered the committee ... to protect one man from investigation."


DeLay Critic Removed From Ethics Committee

"The House ethics committee chairman who presided over three rebukes of House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas) was bounced from the job Wednesday and replaced by a Republican congressman from Washington state.

The new chairman is Rep. Doc Hastings, the committee's second-ranking Republican. He was named by House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) to take the gavel from Rep. Joel Hefley (R-Colo.).

In addition, Hastert appointed three new members to the panel, including two — Reps. Lamar S. Smith (R-Texas) and Tom Cole (R-Okla.) — whose political action committees have contributed to DeLay's legal defense fund. Smith's PAC contributed $5,000 in 2001 and an additional $5,000 between July and September 2004; Cole's gave $5,000 between July and September 2004."



Additional info:
Ethics-Go-Round

[MadMaddie]

1. That is right ...they did it to proect Delay......

this will come back to haunt them....

[Solly Mack]

2. Let's hope so!

[Solly Mack]

3. kick

[Solly Mack]

4. another kick to remind

gonna hafta watch any investigation with a Hastert crony at the helm