Republicans Vote To Eliminate Independent Ethics Office

[Tiberius]

Draining the swamp! Corrupt government is back!

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-house-gop-independent-ethics-office-20170102-story.html

"Republicans claim they want to 'drain the swamp,' but the night before the new Congress gets sworn in, the House GOP has eliminated the only independent ethics oversight of their actions," the California lawmaker said in a statement. "Evidently, ethics are the first casualty of the new Republican Congress."

[Chef Jim]

Draining the swamp! Corrupt government is back!

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-house-gop-independent-ethics-office-20170102-story.html

"Republicans claim they want to 'drain the swamp,' but the night before the new Congress gets sworn in, the House GOP has eliminated the only independent ethics oversight of their actions," the California lawmaker said in a statement. "Evidently, ethics are the first casualty of the new Republican Congress."

 

I'll take The Left STILL Doesn't Know Why Trump Won for $1,000 Alex.

[Tiberius]

 

I'll take The Left STILL Doesn't Know Why Trump Won for $1,000 Alex.

I don't know what you mean. But I also have a suspicion you don't either...

[B-Man]

This is a bad idea........... GOP votes to defang outside ethics panel

 

 

However it is (almost) worth it to see the fabulous over-reaction by the left.

 

It would be better if the House had that independent entity that could issue a public report, rather than giving the House Ethics Committee complete control over what gets released to the public.

But the notion that this change legalizes corruption or represents some sort of enormous sweeping change is another triumph of the narrative over the facts.

UPDATE: House Speaker Paul Ryan issues a statement:

“After eight years of operation, many members believe the Office of Congressional Ethics is in need of reform to protect due process and ensure it is operating according to its stated mission.

I want to make clear that this House will hold its members to the highest ethical standards and the Office will continue to operate independently to provide public accountability to Congress. The Office will continue to be governed by a bipartisan independent outside board with ultimate decision-making authority. The Office is still expected to take in complaints of wrongdoing from the public. It will still investigate them thoroughly and independently. And the outside board will still decide whether or not evidence exists to warrant a full investigation by the House Ethics Committee.

With the amendment adopted last night, the bipartisan, evenly-divided House Ethics Committee will now have oversight of the complaints office. But the Office is not controlled by the Committee, and I expect that oversight authority to be exercised solely to ensure the Office is properly following its rules and laws, just as any government entity should.

I have made clear to the new Chair of the House Ethics Committee that it is not to interfere with the Office’s investigations or prevent it from doing its job. All members of Congress are required to earn the public’s trust every single day, and this House will hold members accountable to the people.”

Read more at: http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/443475/

[Tiberius]

 

This is a bad idea........... GOP votes to defang outside ethics panel

 

 

However it is (almost) worth it to see the fabulous over-reaction by the left.

 

It would be better if the House had that independent entity that could issue a public report, rather than giving the House Ethics Committee complete control over what gets released to the public.

But the notion that this change legalizes corruption or represents some sort of enormous sweeping change is another triumph of the narrative over the facts.

UPDATE: House Speaker Paul Ryan issues a statement:

“After eight years of operation, many members believe the Office of Congressional Ethics is in need of reform to protect due process and ensure it is operating according to its stated mission.

I want to make clear that this House will hold its members to the highest ethical standards and the Office will continue to operate independently to provide public accountability to Congress. The Office will continue to be governed by a bipartisan independent outside board with ultimate decision-making authority. The Office is still expected to take in complaints of wrongdoing from the public. It will still investigate them thoroughly and independently. And the outside board will still decide whether or not evidence exists to warrant a full investigation by the House Ethics Committee.

With the amendment adopted last night, the bipartisan, evenly-divided House Ethics Committee will now have oversight of the complaints office. But the Office is not controlled by the Committee, and I expect that oversight authority to be exercised solely to ensure the Office is properly following its rules and laws, just as any government entity should.

I have made clear to the new Chair of the House Ethics Committee that it is not to interfere with the Office’s investigations or prevent it from doing its job. All members of Congress are required to earn the public’s trust every single day, and this House will hold members accountable to the people.”

 

Read more at: http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/443475/

 

You are right, it is bad

[Nanker]

They already dropped the idea. Trump didn't like it.

[DC Tom]

 

This is a bad idea........... GOP votes to defang outside ethics panel

 

 

However it is (almost) worth it to see the fabulous over-reaction by the left.

 

It would be better if the House had that independent entity that could issue a public report, rather than giving the House Ethics Committee complete control over what gets released to the public.

But the notion that this change legalizes corruption or represents some sort of enormous sweeping change is another triumph of the narrative over the facts.

UPDATE: House Speaker Paul Ryan issues a statement:

“After eight years of operation, many members believe the Office of Congressional Ethics is in need of reform to protect due process and ensure it is operating according to its stated mission.

I want to make clear that this House will hold its members to the highest ethical standards and the Office will continue to operate independently to provide public accountability to Congress. The Office will continue to be governed by a bipartisan independent outside board with ultimate decision-making authority. The Office is still expected to take in complaints of wrongdoing from the public. It will still investigate them thoroughly and independently. And the outside board will still decide whether or not evidence exists to warrant a full investigation by the House Ethics Committee.

With the amendment adopted last night, the bipartisan, evenly-divided House Ethics Committee will now have oversight of the complaints office. But the Office is not controlled by the Committee, and I expect that oversight authority to be exercised solely to ensure the Office is properly following its rules and laws, just as any government entity should.

I have made clear to the new Chair of the House Ethics Committee that it is not to interfere with the Office’s investigations or prevent it from doing its job. All members of Congress are required to earn the public’s trust every single day, and this House will hold members accountable to the people.”

 

Read more at: http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/443475/

 

 

If you need an ethics panel to tell you to act ethically, an ethics panel isn't going to make any difference.

[B-Man]

 

If you need an ethics panel to tell you to act ethically, an ethics panel isn't going to make any difference.

 

 

Exactly my thinking.

 

 

It simply was a bad idea to hand ammunition to the children on the left.

[DC Tom]

It simply was a bad idea to hand ammunition to the children on the left.

 

On the other hand, this is the one situation where I do not necessarily want to keep guns out of the hands of children.

[Chef Jim]

I don't know what you mean. But I also have a suspicion you don't either...

 

Of course you don't know what I mean. You still think your girl lost because of some emails.

[DC Tom]

I don't know what you mean. But I also have a suspicion you don't either...

 

You don't know what anyone means, you raging dumbass.

[B-Man]

Now, now............cut little gator some slack............................yeah, I wrote that...

 

He gets his handout this AM, with the exciting "gutted", "eviscerated", "eliminated" rhetoric,

he adds the Nancy Pelosi outrage quote (without realizing the irony)

 

and then Donald Trump comes in and shuts it down..................(at least until later on)

 

no wonder they are confused.

 

 

 

 

Donald J. Trump

✔ @realDonaldTrump

With all that Congress has to work on, do they really have to make the weakening of the Independent Ethics Watchdog, as unfair as it ........may be, their number one act and priority. Focus on tax reform, healthcare and so many other things of far greater importance! #DTS

10:03 AM - 3 Jan 2017

 

 

 

.

Edited January 3, 2017 by B-Man

[Greg F]

I am sure dumb a$$ was on it in 2010 when the Dem's were after it.

 

http://www.politico.com/story/2010/06/lawmakers-seek-to-gut-ethics-office-038345

[DC Tom]

I am sure dumb a$$ was on it in 2010 when the Dem's were after it.

 

http://www.politico.com/story/2010/06/lawmakers-seek-to-gut-ethics-office-038345

 

I find that article's proactive use of "drain the swamp" to be hilarious. :loi:

[B-Man]

THE HILL: Why Republicans took aim at an ethics watchdog.

 

The failed attempt by Republicans to rein in an independent ethics office was the culmination of years of mounting frustration on Capitol Hill.

While House Republicans backed down Tuesday from their effort to tighten oversight of the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE), the complaints about the office are unlikely to subside in the new Congress.

Lawmakers in both parties have griped about the OCE since its creation in 2008, saying the office’s powers are overly broad and can be used for partisan purposes.

Some of the Republicans behind the failed effort to bring the OCE under congressional oversight had been investigated by the office in the past, according to Politico, including Reps. Blake Farenthold (Texas), Peter Roskam (Ill.) and Sam Graves (Mo.). Farenthold’s investigation was ultimately dropped by the ethics office.

And while Democrats gleefully attacked Republicans Tuesday for seeking to change the OCE, they too have chafed at its approach to investigations.

 

 

 

 

 

If it’s so bad, make getting rid of it a bipartisan thing. After all, the Congressional Black Caucus tried to gut it in 2010: (as Greg F posted)

 

The Office of Congressional Ethics, a powerful symbol of Democrats’ promise to “drain the swamp” in Washington, is in danger of having its power stripped after the midterm elections.

Members of the Congressional Black Caucus have led the charge, airing complaints about the aggressive, independent panel in a private session with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi last month, and they’ve drafted a resolution that, if approved, would severely curtail the panel’s power.

 

 

 

 

 

So why are so many racists “gleefully” attacking Republicans now?

 

Rhetorical.............of course

[Tiberius]

 

Of course you don't know what I mean. You still think your girl lost because of some emails.

No, it was the FBI

[B-Man]

GOP Ethics committee silliness.....

 

 

Amateur Hour, Not Corruption.

 

but that doesn't fit the "gutted" narrative........

[Tiberius]

 

You don't know what anyone means, you raging dumbass.

You are really intimidated

[DC Tom]

You are really intimidated

 

Not by you. By big dogs, yes, but not you.

[Tiberius]

 

Not by you. By big dogs, yes, but not you.

Weak little person