Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

With No Warning, House Republicans Vote to Gut Independent Ethics Office
New York Slimes ^ | 01/02/2017 | Eric Lipton

Posted on 01/02/2017 8:33:01 PM PST by E. Pluribus Unum

WASHINGTON — House Republicans, overriding their top leaders, voted on Monday to significantly curtail the power of an independent ethics office set up in 2008 in the aftermath of corruption scandals that sent three members of Congress to jail.

The move to effectively kill the Office of Congressional Ethics was not made public until late Monday, when Representative Robert W. Goodlatte, Republican of Virginia and chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, announced that the House Republican Conference had approved the change. There was no advance notice or debate on the measure.

The surprising vote came on the eve of the start of a new session of Congress, where emboldened Republicans are ready to push an ambitious agenda on everything from health care to infrastructure, issues that will be the subject of intense lobbying from corporate interests. The House Republicans’ move would take away both power and independence from an investigative body, and give lawmakers more control over internal inquiries.

It also came on the eve of a historic shift in power in Washington, where Republicans control both houses of Congress and where a wealthy businessman with myriad potential conflicts of interest is preparing to move into the White House.

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Government; News/Current Events; US: Virginia
KEYWORDS: 114th; 115th; bobney; cultureofcorruption; dnctalkingpoints; draintheswamp; dukecunningham; ethics; goodlatte; judicialwatch; oce; speakerryan; tomfitton; trumptransition; williamjefferson
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-65 next last
To: Gene Eric

Can’t afford it. And don’t need it anymore since the rats have lost 1000 seats in the last 8 years. Cost savings. Winning continues.


41 posted on 01/02/2017 9:53:47 PM PST by Dr. Pritchett
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum
"Congressional Ethics". ---😂😂😂
42 posted on 01/02/2017 9:58:37 PM PST by 4Liberty (DEMOCRATS- Exporting Jobs, Importing Votes.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Gene Eric

Trump wins again. Ryan loses again. And in 18 days the nsa will no longer be tapping my (and your) phone. Another great night in Trump America. Great again to sleep in peace. Praise Jesus.


43 posted on 01/02/2017 10:20:06 PM PST by Panhandle.deporable
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

If the House and the country survived without it until 2008 it probably isn’t that critical.


44 posted on 01/02/2017 10:24:08 PM PST by clintonh8r (AMERICA! THANK YOU FOR MAKING MY SCREEN NAME OBSOLETE!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

If you look at the OCE board members past and present, it will become quickly obvious that this was never a serious institution.


45 posted on 01/02/2017 10:28:52 PM PST by thoughtomator (Purple: the color of sedition)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

Confirmation bias.


46 posted on 01/02/2017 10:55:13 PM PST by Mike Darancette (Make lemonade.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: EDINVA

I like it that Trump has his own income. It’s harder to bribe someone who has their own money. How many politicians in Washington are getting money from Chinese lobbyists.


47 posted on 01/02/2017 11:49:55 PM PST by virgil (The evil that men do lives after them.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 38 | View Replies]

To: Sequoyah101

Yep, pretty much been in survival mode for 8 years. Even more so the last 5 years. It’s unbelievable. But I’ve adapted. Improvise. Adapt. Overcome.


48 posted on 01/03/2017 12:42:03 AM PST by SaveFerris (Hebrews 13:2 Do not forget to entertain strangers, for ... some have unwittingly entertained angels)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies]

To: Sequoyah101

Hillary was not wealthy and had no conflicts of interest with the Clinton Foundation.

There. I finished their paragraph.


49 posted on 01/03/2017 1:07:57 AM PST by jazminerose (Adorable Deplorable)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: mrsmith

Wow. Important info I’d say. I should have realized they weren’t in session. Thanks.


50 posted on 01/03/2017 1:08:04 AM PST by dp0622 (The only thing an upper crust conservative hates more than a liberal is a middle class conservative)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

since the source is the New York Slimes, a link to the legislation and the roll call vote is needed.

The NYtimes is FAKE NEWS!


51 posted on 01/03/2017 4:10:06 AM PST by The_Republic_Of_Maine (politicians beware)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: stylin19a

Thank you


52 posted on 01/03/2017 4:13:50 AM PST by novemberslady
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

On the surface, it seems that they are preparing for the swamp to be drained.


53 posted on 01/03/2017 4:29:17 AM PST by TruthInThoughtWordAndDeed (Yahuah Yahusha)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dp0622

Why did they wait until the last minute to do this? Self protection or eliminate more government waste, hopefully it is the latter. Might be a place to start draining the swamp.


54 posted on 01/03/2017 4:42:05 AM PST by DaveA37
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 50 | View Replies]

To: dsc

Elections have consequences, liberals. I will give the Republicans the benefit of the doubt and assume this was a partisan “ethics” committee set up by the Dems to serve the Dems.


55 posted on 01/03/2017 6:03:21 AM PST by SaraJohnson
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

CONgre$$, The Gang of 535, should be in federal prison (along with many past gang members...HIllary, Obama, etc., etc.)

http://usdebtclock.org

The most EVIL government in the history of this terrific republic.


56 posted on 01/03/2017 6:11:09 AM PST by PGalt (CONGRATULATIONS Donald J. Trump)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: map

I don’t feel sorry for CR, but this ethics panel really did not seem to have much power to actually do anything substantive. Depending on who is running the show, it could easily be abused. If someone leaves their office, the ethics investigation goes away.


57 posted on 01/03/2017 6:41:11 AM PST by smokingfrog ( sleep with one eye open (<o> ---)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 39 | View Replies]

To: DaveA37

I believe it’s one of those things that has to be reauthorized and funded, and they just decided not to do it. Libs act like GOP is trying to hide something just because Pelosi was the one that started this.


58 posted on 01/03/2017 6:46:49 AM PST by smokingfrog ( sleep with one eye open (<o> ---)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 54 | View Replies]

To: JohnBrowdie
they only had jurisdiction over members of the house of representatives. c’mon, folks. try to keep it together.

And only natural born Kenyans are eligible to President.

59 posted on 01/03/2017 7:28:43 AM PST by E. Pluribus Unum (President Trump is coming, and the rule of law is coming with him.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: SaraJohnson
I will give the Republicans the benefit of the doubt and assume this was a partisan “ethics” committee set up by the Dems to serve the Dems.

Set up, maybe, but the Reps have controlled the House since 2011.

60 posted on 01/03/2017 7:54:30 AM PST by semimojo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 55 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-65 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson