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Boyda Ethics Reform Proposal Overwhelmingly Passes U.S. House
07/31/07BILL IS EXPECTED TO PASS SENATE LATER THIS WEEK
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. House of Representatives today overwhelmingly approved the Honest Leadership, Open Government Act, the most significant ethics reform package to pass Congress in decades. Among the bill's sweeping provisions is language authored by Congresswoman Nancy Boyda (Kansas Second District) to strip the pensions of Members of Congress who are convicted of crimes related to their official duties.
Currently, federal law only strips the pensions of Members of Congress in cases of treason and certain espionage-related offenses. Boyda's language, which previously passed the U.S. House in January as H.R. 476, the Pensions Forfeiture Act, revokes the pensions of Members convicted of numerous other crimes, such as bribery, conspiracy, and perjury.
The Senate is expected to pass the Honest Leadership, Open Government Act later this week, after which it will be sent to President Bush to be signed into law.
Boyda said, "This year, taxpayers will fund Congressional pensions for more than a dozen former representatives who criminally abused their offices. The typical payout is $47,000 a year – greater than the average American's household income."
She added, "By revoking the pensions of politicians who misuse their powers, Congress is taking a strong stand for honesty and accountability in government. I hope that, by passing this bill, Congress can start to earn back Americans' trust and rebuild faith in the legislative process."
In addition to Boyda's provisions, the Honest Leadership. Open Government Act also limits the so-called "revolving door" of lawmakers entering the lobbying industry, and it imposes financial disclosure requirements on lobbyists. Taken together, these changes represent the most significant ethics overhaul to pass Congress in decades.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. House of Representatives today overwhelmingly approved the Honest Leadership, Open Government Act, the most significant ethics reform package to pass Congress in decades. Among the bill's sweeping provisions is language authored by Congresswoman Nancy Boyda (Kansas Second District) to strip the pensions of Members of Congress who are convicted of crimes related to their official duties.
Currently, federal law only strips the pensions of Members of Congress in cases of treason and certain espionage-related offenses. Boyda's language, which previously passed the U.S. House in January as H.R. 476, the Pensions Forfeiture Act, revokes the pensions of Members convicted of numerous other crimes, such as bribery, conspiracy, and perjury.
The Senate is expected to pass the Honest Leadership, Open Government Act later this week, after which it will be sent to President Bush to be signed into law.
Boyda said, "This year, taxpayers will fund Congressional pensions for more than a dozen former representatives who criminally abused their offices. The typical payout is $47,000 a year – greater than the average American's household income."
She added, "By revoking the pensions of politicians who misuse their powers, Congress is taking a strong stand for honesty and accountability in government. I hope that, by passing this bill, Congress can start to earn back Americans' trust and rebuild faith in the legislative process."
In addition to Boyda's provisions, the Honest Leadership. Open Government Act also limits the so-called "revolving door" of lawmakers entering the lobbying industry, and it imposes financial disclosure requirements on lobbyists. Taken together, these changes represent the most significant ethics overhaul to pass Congress in decades.