Melanie Sloan
Melanie Sloan
Melanie Sloanis the former Executive Director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, a nonprofit government watchdog group...
blatant committee complaint conduct disregard ethics file house ignore integrity law member rule shows truce urge
Rep. Jefferson's conduct shows a blatant disregard for the rule of law and the integrity of the House of Representatives. We urge a member of the House to ignore the long-standing ethics truce and file CREW's complaint with the House Ethics Committee today.
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The only way to get an FOI request honored these days is to go to court. We can go to court and win, but some regular person is not going to know how to file a complaint in federal court and prepare a brief arguing that the administration is in violation of the law. And no one has endless resources to fight every denial. It's very effective, what they've done. They keep the information hidden.
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If rooting out corruption in the House of Representatives is truly a priority for both parties, then we ask a member, any member, to put their money where their mouth is and file this complaint against Acting House Majority Leader Roy Blunt. We urge members to end the ethics 'truce' and cease abdicating their responsibility to police the conduct of their colleagues.
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It is outrageous that outsiders can't file complaints, since Congress has demonstrated its unwillingness to police its own conduct.
congress either ethics file house member police responsibility willing
The House has completely abdicated its constitutional responsibility to police itself. There is still no member of Congress, in either party, willing to file an ethics complaint.
against both complaint deny ethics existence fact file member nobody parties since terms truce
That's because there's an ethics truce. Both parties will deny this, but there is in fact a truce that's been in existence since 1998. And under the terms of the truce nobody will file a complaint against a member of the other party.
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Rep. Johnson abused the public trust by using the power of his office to harass an organization which had taken a position with which he disagreed. Such actions are specifically prohibited by federal law and ethics rules and the House ethics committee should immediately commence an investigation into Rep. Johnson's disgraceful conduct.
corrupt culture means members problems republican
Republican culture of corruption. There are so many corrupt members of Congress. By no means are all of the problems gone.
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I think it's a little too cozy. It's not an uncommon practice, but it is a concerning one.
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starting to undermine the prosecutor by implying that he's only going to be able to indict on technicalities.
reform
Lobbying reform is going more the enforcement route. What's that going to do? Nothing much.
heard lots pay view
Lobbying is cost-effective only for those who can pay for lobbyists. Those with an opposing view won't be heard as well as those with lots of money.
changes oversight rule virtually
Without oversight or enforcement, rule changes are virtually meaningless.
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Why did Sen. Frist suddenly decide to sell the stock in June after holding the stock for so long? Also, did the Senator order the sale based on insider knowledge that the value of the stock was about to decline precipitously?