Dems historic opportunity for ethics reform

[OzarkDem]

Dems have a rare opportunity to define the party to voters who are fed up with pay to play politicis. How they handle this important task could make them the majority party for years to come. Now is the time to encourage them to be fearless and do the right thing by cleaning up government and elections.

While it might be easy to blame the current ethics mess on the Republicans, its not enough to say "we aren't them". We have to institute real ethics reform to prevent the GOP from doing the same thing. If history has taught us anything, its that the GOP never learns from its mistakes, but only finds new ways to game the system.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/19/washington/19ethics.html?_r=1&th&emc=th&oref=slogin

Democratic leaders in the House and the Senate, mindful that voters in the midterm election cited corruption as a major concern, say they are moving quickly to finalize a package of changes for consideration as soon as the new Congress convenes in January.

Their initial proposals, laid out earlier this year, would prohibit members from accepting meals, gifts or travel from lobbyists, require lobbyists to disclose all contacts with lawmakers and bar former lawmakers-turned-lobbyists from entering the floor of the chambers or Congressional gymnasiums.

None of the measures would overhaul campaign financing or create an independent ethics watchdog to enforce the rules. Nor would they significantly restrict earmarks, the pet projects lawmakers can anonymously insert into spending bills, which have figured in several recent corruption scandals and attracted criticism from members in both parties. The proposals would require disclosure of the sponsors of some earmarks, but not all.

Some Democrats say their election is a mandate for more sweeping changes, and many newly elected candidates — citing scandals involving several Republican lawmakers last year — made Congressional ethics a major issue during the campaign. After winning the House on election night, Representative Nancy Pelosi, the House Democratic leader, promised “the most honest, most open and most ethical Congress in history.”

[Eric J in MN]

1. Supposed charities and educational organizations....

...shouldn't be allowed to pay for travel, either.

The notorious trip to Scotland of Tom DeLay via Jack Abramoff was supposedly paid for by a charity.

[OzarkDem]

2. We also need better oversight

many of the GOP violations were for offenses already deemed illegal or unethical, yet no one was enforcing the regulations.

How do we improve enforcement and oversight? Should it be taken out of the body of Congress itself?