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“ Democratic priorities are clear: we will fight to get the economy back on track, we will create jobs, and we will help unemployed workers. ” |
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Pelosi: Republicans Destroyed the Ethics Process to Protect Their Cronies
Washington, D.C. – House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released the following statement today on the Speaker’s comments regarding the House Ethics Committee and Ranking Member Congressman Alan Mollohan. Following Pelosi’s statement is a history of recent Democratic efforts on Ethics reform.
“Speaker Hastert and his Republican cohorts are responsible for the most corrupt Congress in history and the American people are paying the price at the gas pump, at the pharmacy, and with record high deficits.
“Republicans destroyed the ethics process in the House to protect their cronies Cunningham, DeLay, Ney, and other Members implicated in the Abramoff scandal – to name only a few.
“The Speaker should join me in directing the Ethics Committee to get to work, and not cast aspersions on the independent and distinguished Ranking Member.”
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Highlights of House Democratic Proposals for Ethics Reform
December 8, 2003– House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi introduces a privileged resolution condemning the Republicans’ abuse of House rules during the debate and vote on the Medicare prescription drug bill of November 2003. Along party lines, Republicans blocked a debate and vote on the resolution.
June 24, 2004– Leader Pelosi introduces the Minority Bill of Rights that includes guidelines for a bipartisan administration of the House and provides for the full and open debate of legislation.
October 8, 2004– Leader Pelosi introduces a privileged resolution on the House floor directing the House Ethics Committee to appoint a special counsel to investigate allegations against Majority Leader Tom DeLay. Along party lines, Republicans blocked a debate and vote on the resolution.
December 6, 2004– Leader Pelosi and House Democrats forced Republicans to remove their provision assaulting taxpayer privacy that was slipped into the omnibus spending bill and voted on without providing Members adequate time to read the bill.
January 4, 2005– Leader Pelosi and House Democrats introduce a reform package of House rules, which includes forbidding Members from negotiating with an outside entity that has business with their committee or the House. Dubbed the Tauzin Rule, it is named for Congressman Billy Tauzin who was being courted by the pharmaceutical industry while managing the Medicare prescription drug bill. Every Democrat votes for the reform package.
March 8, 2005– Leader Pelosi and Congresswoman Louise Slaughter release a detailed report on the Republican rules abuses. The report chronicles the unprecedented erosion of the democratic process in the 108th Congress.
March 15, 2005 and April 14, 2005– Leader Pelosi introduces privileged resolutions asking the Speaker to create a bipartisan task force to make recommendations to fix the ethics process. Along party lines, Republicans blocked a debate and vote on the resolution.
April 27, 2005– Leader Pelosi and House Democrats force Republicans to reverse their partisan ethics rules that were adopted in January and restore bipartisan rules ethics rules that hade been in place since 1997.
April 27, 2005– Leader Pelosi sends a letter to Speaker Hastert to express concern over Ethics Committee Chairman Doc Hastings’ proposal to hire partisan committee staff.
May 17, 2005– Leader Pelosi and Congressman George Miller hold a news conference to discuss ethics reform and unveil new ethical standards and principles. These principles include banning Member from accepting gifts from lobbyists, banning lobbying by Members and high level staff for two years after leaving Congress, and banning lobbyists from arranging and financing travel.
May 17, 2005– Congressmen Marty Meehan and Rahm Emanuel introduce the Special Interest Lobbying and Ethics Accountability Act of 2005. The bill, endorsed by Leader Pelosi, increases disclosure of lobbying activities, slows the revolving door between government and lobbying, curbs lobbyist-sponsored trips, and toughens enforcement and oversight.
September 20, 2005– Leader Pelosi and Congressman Henry Waxman announce legislation to create an anti-fraud commission for the rebuilding effort in the
September 27, 2005– Leader Pelosi and Congressman Waxman introduce the Anti-Cronyism and Public Safety Act, which would prohibit the President from appointing unqualified individuals to critical public safety positions in the government.
October 21, 2005– Leader Pelosi sends a letter to the Speaker urging him to join her in requesting an investigation into allegations regarding Congressman Bob Ney.
November 30, 2005– Leader Pelosi sends a letter to the Speaker urging him to support the creation of a bipartisan committee to investigate Congressman Duke Cunningham’s criminal activities.
December 5, 2005– Congressmen David Obey, Barney Frank, David Price, and Tom Allen unveil a 14-point House rules reform package. The package, endorsed by Leader Pelosi, weakens lobbyist influence, strengthens fiscal discipline, outlaws the use of earmarks to buy votes, curbs abuses of power, and lengthens time for Congressional oversight of legislation.
December 8, 2005– Leader Pelosi introduces a privileged resolution on the Republican culture of corruption and the Medicare prescription drug bill and its negative effect on
January 11, 2006– Leader Pelosi sends a letter to the Speaker urging him to bring Democratic legislation to the House floor that would help restore public confidence and weaken lobbyist influence in the House.
January 18, 2006– Leader Pelosi and House and Senate Democrats will propose their Honesty in Government agenda and affirm their commitment to reforming
March 30, 2006– Leader Pelosi introduces a privileged resolution requiring an ethics investigation of all Members implicated in the criminal activities of Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Republicans blocked a debate and vote on the resolution.
April 5, 2006– Leader Pelosi introduces a privileged resolution requiring an ethics investigation of all Members implicated in the criminal activities of Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Republicans blocked a debate and vote on the resolution.
“ Democrats are united in presenting a New Direction for America, one that will make our nation as strong as its people, one that brings opportunity, security, and prosperity to all Americans. ”
Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi
