Non-partisan report on the 20 most corrupt members of Congress.

[11 Bravo]

Here's a shocker. 17 out of the top 20 are Repugs. The Big Three are Conrad Burns (R-Mont), Bill Frist (R-TN), and pRick Sphinctorum (R-Bestiality). As an added bonus, four out the five "Members to Watch" are also Repugs. Yeah, these people promised to restore honor and dignity to government, and they are doing so with a vengeance!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2006/09/20/20-most-corrupt-members-o_n_29863.html

[mom cat]

1. Here is the list:

Today, the Center For Responsibility And Ethics In Washington released its second annual survey of the twenty most corrupt members of Congress, aptly named "Beyond DeLay: The 20 Most Corrupt Members of Congress (and five to watch)."

CREW inventoried the "transgressions" of each member of Congress under the microscope of federal law and congressional rules.

Some highlights:

-The three most corrupt Senate members are the infamous Conrad Burns (R-MT), Bill Frist (R-TN), and Rick Santorum (R-PA)

-Seventeen of the twenty "Most Corrupt" politicians are Republicans

-Four of the "Five Members To Watch" are Republicans

-All but one of the 25 Members of Congress included on the list are up for re-election

The Full List:

Members of the Senate:
Conrad Burns (R-MT)
Bill Frist (R-TN)
Rick Santorum (R-PA)

Members of the House:
Alan Mollohan (D-WV)
Roy Blunt (R-MO)
Marilyn Musgrave (R-CO)
Ken Calvert (R-CA)
Richard Pombo (R-CA)
John Doolittle (R-CA)
Rick Renzi (R-AZ)
Tom Feeney (R-FL)
Pete Sessions (R-TX)
Katherine Harris (R-FL)
John Sweeney (R-NY)
William Jefferson (D-LA)
Charles Taylor (R-NC)
Jerry Lewis (R-CA)
Maxine Waters (D-CA)
Gary Miller (R-CA)
Curt Weldon (R-PA)

Five Members to Watch:
Chris Cannon (R-UT)
J.D. Hayworth (R-AZ)
Dennis Hastert (R-IL)
John Murtha (D-PA)
Rep. Don Sherwood (R-PA)

[Coexist]

2. I read that Waters and Murtha were not there for links to criminals -

http://www.rawstory.com/news/2006/New_report_documents_25_most_tainted_0920.html
"However, the report does not spare Democrats, even popular ones. As well as Representatives Jefferson and Mollohan, Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) and Rep. John Murtha (D-PA) are both cited for using their offices to benefit family members. "

[mom cat]

3. Thanks for that clarification.

[nuxvomica]

4. My congressman made the list!

Well, not strictly speaking my congressman. He's owned by the various lobbyists with whom he seems to spend most of his recreation time. I notified the Dem challenger's campaign just in case they missed.

edit: BTW, I'm referring to Rep. John Sweeney of New York's longtime poorly represented 20th District.