Friday, December 31, 2004
You call this moral values?
WASHINGTON (AP) - Republican leaders are considering a change in House ethics rules that could make it harder to discipline lawmakers.
The proposal being circulated among House Republicans would end a general rule against any behavior that might bring "discredit" on the chamber, according to House Republican and Democratic leadership aides. House members would be held to a narrower standard of behavior in keeping with the law, the House's rules and its ethics guidelines.
MSNBC Ethics and government accountability groups say these events are a sign of weakening ethical restrictions. "We're seeing an easing of ethical standards and disclosure standards," said Charles Lewis, who runs the nonprofit Center for Public Integrity. "They can dress it up any way they want, but they're trying to increase the employment opportunities for their officials."
For example, the Office of Government Ethics has proposed, and Bush supports, legislation to ease financial disclosure requirements for government officials, reducing the amount of conflict-of-interest information that candidates and their families must report. The House recently passed a version of the legislation.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) Last month, some Penn Hills School District board members objected that Santorum's children attended the Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School at district expense because Santorum's family mostly lives at a $757,000 home in Virginia.
"Taxpayers have enough of a responsibility for trying to educate kids who are bona fide, legitimate residents," he said. "They shouldn't have to be paying for kids who aren't residents of that district."
WASHINGTON (AP) - House Speaker Dennis Hastert is considering replacing the chairman of the ethics committee, which admonished Majority Leader Tom DeLay, who is the focus of a grand jury probe into his campaign finance practices.
Hastert has not yet made up his mind about whether to replace Rep. Joel Hefley, R-Colo., when Congress reconvenes on Tuesday, his spokesman said.
"The speaker thinks that Chairman Hefley has done a terrific job," Hastert spokesman John Feehery said Thursday. "If he makes that decision, it will be because of the rules, not for any other reason."
Comment: Rules? Oh, only when it's convenient. So much for being the paragons of morality. Rather, they are the exemplars of the double standard.
Mr. Petulance.
The proposal being circulated among House Republicans would end a general rule against any behavior that might bring "discredit" on the chamber, according to House Republican and Democratic leadership aides. House members would be held to a narrower standard of behavior in keeping with the law, the House's rules and its ethics guidelines.
MSNBC Ethics and government accountability groups say these events are a sign of weakening ethical restrictions. "We're seeing an easing of ethical standards and disclosure standards," said Charles Lewis, who runs the nonprofit Center for Public Integrity. "They can dress it up any way they want, but they're trying to increase the employment opportunities for their officials."
For example, the Office of Government Ethics has proposed, and Bush supports, legislation to ease financial disclosure requirements for government officials, reducing the amount of conflict-of-interest information that candidates and their families must report. The House recently passed a version of the legislation.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) Last month, some Penn Hills School District board members objected that Santorum's children attended the Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School at district expense because Santorum's family mostly lives at a $757,000 home in Virginia.
"Taxpayers have enough of a responsibility for trying to educate kids who are bona fide, legitimate residents," he said. "They shouldn't have to be paying for kids who aren't residents of that district."
WASHINGTON (AP) - House Speaker Dennis Hastert is considering replacing the chairman of the ethics committee, which admonished Majority Leader Tom DeLay, who is the focus of a grand jury probe into his campaign finance practices.
Hastert has not yet made up his mind about whether to replace Rep. Joel Hefley, R-Colo., when Congress reconvenes on Tuesday, his spokesman said.
"The speaker thinks that Chairman Hefley has done a terrific job," Hastert spokesman John Feehery said Thursday. "If he makes that decision, it will be because of the rules, not for any other reason."
Comment: Rules? Oh, only when it's convenient. So much for being the paragons of morality. Rather, they are the exemplars of the double standard.
Mr. Petulance.
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