WP: A Fraying Truce on Ethics Charges

[kskiska]

Democrats Torn Over Probing GOP

Wednesday, March 17, 2004; Page A01

A seven-year ethics truce between congressional Republicans and Democrats has begun to fray under the weight of mounting alleged abuses by House GOP leaders and tensions among Democrats over how aggressively to pursue the matters.

Some Democrats and outside groups think the reported wrongdoings have reached a critical mass that cries out for investigations and reforms. Democratic leaders, however, are wary of breaking the long cease-fire that has protected both parties from the types of ethics charges and countercharges that roiled Congress and toppled two speakers in the 1980s and '90s.

Central to the debate is the House ethics committee, largely dormant since the unwritten truce took effect but rousing in recent days to defend itself against the rain of criticism. Watchdog groups are demanding that the secretive panel show more vigor in pursuing published reports of questionable behavior by lawmakers, and they want an end to the House-approved 1997 rule that bars ethics inquiries based solely on complaints from outsiders.

Some Democratic activists also are seething, convinced their elected officials are letting Republicans flout ethical standards in ways that were unthinkable when the GOP took control of the House in 1994. Republicans had attacked the entrenched Democrats' abuse of the House bank and post office and vowed to end Congress's "cycle of scandal."

The recent allegations touch top lawmakers, including House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Tex.), Majority Whip Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) and several committee chairmen. They involve suggestions of bribery and threats on the House floor, illegal use of campaign funds, misuse of a federal agency for political purposes, conflicts of interest, and strong-arm tactics against lobbyists and campaign contributors.

more…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A64604-2004Mar16.html

[rockymountaindem]

1. Who can I e-mail

in the House telling the Dems to pursue this?

[RamboLiberal]

3. Start with Pelosi and your local rep

She's the one mentioned in the article that is hesitant. Don't the Dems realize that the Repugs will only get bolder if the Dems don't fight back as viciously as Repugs do?

[rockymountaindem]

4. My Rep. is Joel Hefley

'Nuff said

[orwell]

2. Et Tu Brute

Is there no honor among thieves? :eyes: :puke:

O

[DeepModem Mom]

5. This article deserves its place on the frontpage --

The extremists in power have no respect for our political norms and traditions, or even our laws and Constitution.

[Sugarbleus]

6. Ethics schmethics....'Frayed' ???

Among the power hungry, civility, humility, morality (et al) are considered WEAKNESS. I say let's write to our Dem reps and tell them to get off the dime...'don't spare the horses, Walter'... The Dems are getting steam rolled by all this play nice-nice stuff.

This is a critical time and it's past due that we fight fire with fire. Stand tall and DO THE RIGHT THING. Stop this criminal rw government before they get us killed.

I would LOVE to see rousing house and senate debates like they have in England and Japan and other places. There's almost NO emotion in these preceedings--at least not that we can see. It's all too sterile.