House Republicans Vote to Hobble Independent Ethics Office (1 Viewer)

[urbanhack]

http://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/02/us/politics/with-no-warning-house-republicans-vote-to-hobble-independent-ethics-office.html

House Republicans, defying their top leaders, voted Monday to significantly curtail the power of an independent ethics office set up in 2008 in the aftermath of corruption scandals that sent three members of Congress to jail.

The move to weaken the Office of Congressional Ethics was not public until late Monday, when Representative Robert Goodlatte, Republican of Virginia and chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, announced that the House Republican Conference had approved the change with no advance public notice or debate.

In its place, a new Office of Congressional Complaint Review would be set up within the House Ethics Committee, which before the creation of the Office of Congressional Ethics had been accused of ignoring credible allegations of wrongdoing by lawmakers.

Why would they do this when they are about to take control?

 

[quickhands]

http://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/02/us/politics/with-no-warning-house-republicans-vote-to-hobble-independent-ethics-office.html

House Republicans, defying their top leaders, voted Monday to significantly curtail the power of an independent ethics office set up in 2008 in the aftermath of corruption scandals that sent three members of Congress to jail.

The move to weaken the Office of Congressional Ethics was not public until late Monday, when Representative Robert Goodlatte, Republican of Virginia and chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, announced that the House Republican Conference had approved the change with no advance public notice or debate.

In its place, a new Office of Congressional Complaint Review would be set up within the House Ethics Committee, which before the creation of the Office of Congressional Ethics had been accused of ignoring credible allegations of wrongdoing by lawmakers.

Why would they do this when they are about to take control?

They are in control.   My guess is that they are pulling power away from leadership

 

[Mario Kart]

So... they're following the example set by North Carolina? Ooh, what a great plan.

 

[Reg Lllama of Brixton]

Shocking.

What a bunch of turd mongers.

 

[Sammy3469]

Draining the swamp one back room deal at a time.  The Trump gravy train must be especially delicious.  

 

[McGarnicle]

Representative Robert Goodlatte

I'll bet this guy makes a great cup of coffee.

 

[Reg Lllama of Brixton]

Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?

 

[The Z Machine]

The kleptocracy is a-coming.

 

[Sammy3469]

I can't wait for the stories of Russian paid Congressional trips.  

 

[Bucky86]

 

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

I saw this, disgusting. And totally pointless.

Apparently per Part (T) if the OCE discovers criminal conduct it cannot contact the police without first seeking permission from the Committee.

 

[Bruce Dickinson]

So... they're following the example set by North Carolina? Ooh, what a great plan.

More closely modeled by Wisconsin when Scott Walker took office, but North Carolina is a good comp, too.

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

Also disgusting- apparently the Senate has never even had an ethics office.

 

[Mario Kart]

More closely modeled by Wisconsin when Scott Walker took office, but North Carolina is a good comp, too.

Walker and the state assembly have done their fair share of damage in the great state of Wisconsin, but, nothing I can think of that blantantly went against a code of ethics... or got rid of ethics. Morally reprehensible, in some manner, sure, but North Carolina takes the cake so far. Wisconsin is going to be red for the next decade or more. The northerners love to hate on Milwaukee and Madison even though those cities bring in the money to the state. 

 

[The General]

Probably the Democrats fault.

 

[MaxThreshold]

Walker and the state assembly have done their fair share of damage in the great state of Wisconsin, but, nothing I can think of that blantantly went against a code of ethics... or got rid of ethics. Morally reprehensible, in some manner, sure, but North Carolina takes the cake so far. Wisconsin is going to be red for the next decade or more. The northerners love to hate on Milwaukee and Madison even though those cities bring in the money to the state. 

More closely modeled by Wisconsin when Scott Walker took office, but North Carolina is a good comp, too.

I can see a few posters have been consuming the thinkprogress and Daily Kos talking points like madmen.

 

[MaxThreshold]

Just to be clear, is THIS now the latest Democrat outrage?  It's hard to keep up with you guys - you have a new one every 20 minutes.

 

[Reg Lllama of Brixton]

Just to be clear, is THIS now the latest Democrat outrage?  It's hard to keep up with you guys - you have a new one every 20 minutes.

Wait.  People are only allowed a certain number of outrages?

 

[MaxThreshold]

Wait.  People are only allowed a certain number of outrages?

Correct.  There can be only one (outrage).

 

[Northern Voice]

Just to be clear, is THIS now the latest Democrat outrage?  It's hard to keep up with you guys - you have a new one every 20 minutes.

Right, nothing to see here .

Seriously though, just feels like the voters getting what they deserve, another step towards kleptocracy. Of course it's easy for me to feel that way when I don't have to live there.

 

[urbanhack]

Just to be clear, is THIS now the latest Democrat outrage?  It's hard to keep up with you guys - you have a new one every 20 minutes.

You don't have a problem with this?  

 

[MaxThreshold]

Right, nothing to see here .

Seriously though, just feels like the voters getting what they deserve, another step towards kleptocracy. Of course it's easy for me to feel that way when I don't have to live there.

Yeah, not any hyperbole in your post at all.  Have you all gone bat-#### crazy since the election?

 

[Reg Lllama of Brixton]

Correct.  There can be only one (outrage).

Oooo!

Pick one!

Abortions, guns, war on Christmas/Christians, uppity negroes...

 

[MaxThreshold]

Oooo!

Pick one!

Abortions, guns, war on Christmas/Christians, uppity negroes...

You're pretty racist, dude.  But then again thanks to the release of the DNC emails earlier this year we've learned their are plenty of racists calling themselves Democrats.

 

[Mario Kart]

Just to be clear, is THIS now the latest Democrat outrage?  It's hard to keep up with you guys - you have a new one every 20 minutes.

Just to be clear if you have no problem with this, and/or aren't questioning this, you are as bad, or worse, than the people you wail on all the time about following the marching orders of the Democratic Party. You can not honestly tell me that the impications of getting rid, or loosening, ethics from our lawmakers is a good thing, can you? You don't want them held accountable by the people on the front line... themselves? If not, you are just a parrot of whatever the party says/does. Or, a puppet. Which do you prefer?

 

[MaxThreshold]

Just to be clear if you have no problem with this, and/or aren't questioning this, you are as bad, or worse, than the people you wail on all the time about following the marching orders of the Democratic Party. You can not honestly tell me that the impications of getting rid, or loosening, ethics from our lawmakers is a good thing, can you? You don't want them held accountable by the people on the front line... themselves? If not, you are just a parrot of whatever the party says/does. Or, a puppet. Which do you prefer?

I'm sure there is more to the story than the headlines you're reading from the Daily Kos, ThinkProgress and NY Times.

I don't agree with your "If you don't vote or think like me you're evil" nonsense.  This is one of the reasons why your side has lost over 1000 political seats in the last 8 years.

 

[urbanhack]

I'm sure there is more to the story than the headlines you're reading from the Daily Kos, ThinkProgress and NY Times.

What else would there be?  Are you going to check it out and report back or are you going to keep polluting this thread with your usual crap?

 

[sho nuff]

Just to be clear, is THIS now the latest Democrat outrage?  It's hard to keep up with you guys - you have a new one every 20 minutes.

What is your actual opinion on the topic?  Beyond complaining about dems or libs or SJWs?

 

[MaxThreshold]

What else would there be?  Are you going to check it out and report back or are you going to keep polluting this thread with your usual crap?

You're the ones losing your #### over everything, not me.  Seems like it's really all of your crap polluting these threads.

 

[urbanhack]

You're the ones losing your #### over everything, not me.  

I posted the article and asked a simple question about why they would do this.   Get a grip dude.

 

[MaxThreshold]

What is your actual opinion on the topic?  Beyond complaining about dems or libs or SJWs?

I'm complaining?

You're the ones complaining about everything, not me.

 

[sho nuff]

You're the ones losing your #### over everything, not me.  Seems like it's really all of your crap polluting these threads.

Post an article and discussing it does not equal losing our ####.  That false narrative of any criticism of anything equals unhinged has to stop.  Just ridiculous.

 

[sho nuff]

I'm complaining?

You're the ones complaining about everything, not me.

Going to take this as...you really don't care about any topic...just want to pop in to troll as you are now?

 

[Fla\/\/ed]

 

[Bruce Dickinson]

Walker and the state assembly have done their fair share of damage in the great state of Wisconsin, but, nothing I can think of that blantantly went against a code of ethics... or got rid of ethics. Morally reprehensible, in some manner, sure, but North Carolina takes the cake so far. Wisconsin is going to be red for the next decade or more. The northerners love to hate on Milwaukee and Madison even though those cities bring in the money to the state. 

 Wisconsin gutted its independent "Government Accountability Board" early in Walker's reign.

 

[Mario Kart]

 Wisconsin gutted its independent "Government Accountability Board" early in Walker's reign.

That's right. On the radio Belling was thrilled about that. Waste of money and not needed him saying if I remember correctly. Dude has become much worse over the past couple years. He used to be bearable but listening to him now is on the level of Rush and the crazy due at night. Forget his name right now. 

 

[Ministry of Pain]

It's time to live our lives guys and let the politics go for a while. Do you all really get upset about this stuff? Because if this upsets you then I could show you a whole bunch of other stuff much of it historical fact that would make the hair on your neck stand up but hey never miss a chance to feel butt hurt because some politicians in Washington didn't call you to announce what they are doing. 

Some of you should run for office and make real change. 

 

[Reg Lllama of Brixton]

 I could show you a whole bunch of other stuff much of it historical fact that would make the hair on your neck stand up 

 You and history go together like hot sauce and paper cuts.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

 You and history go together like hot sauce and paper cuts.

I'm putting my World History test together, we are studying the Renaissance

 

[Bruce Dickinson]

That's right. On the radio Belling was thrilled about that. Waste of money and not needed him saying if I remember correctly. Dude has become much worse over the past couple years. He used to be bearable but listening to him now is on the level of Rush and the crazy due at night. Forget his name right now. 

In Wisconsin's favor on the issue at hand... Paul Ryan opposed.

 

[rascal]

Tell me why citizens shouldn't be concerned when the independent accountability office for its elected officials is stripped of its responsibilities and given to those it's supposed to be holding accountable?

 

[Reg Lllama of Brixton]

I'm putting my World History test together, we are studying the Renaissance*

*watching old TMNT episodes

 

[Ministry of Pain]

*watching old TMNT episodes

Which country has the leaning Tower of Pizza?

 

[BigSteelThrill]

Not sure how you identify as republican -- at all. And NO, there isn't an equivalency.

 

[lakerstan]

I'm sure there is more to the story than the headlines you're reading from the Daily Kos, ThinkProgress and NY Times.

I don't agree with your "If you don't vote or think like me you're evil" nonsense.  This is one of the reasons why your side has lost over 1000 political seats in the last 8 years.

It's on the front page of CNN now.  

At what point does it become newsworthy?  Only when Alex Jones does the story?

 

[skycriesmary]

Yeah, not any hyperbole in your post at all.  Have you all gone bat-#### crazy since the election?

Yeah, whatever you had after the last election must be contagious. 

 

[Amused to Death]

It's on the front page of CNN now.  

At what point does it become newsworthy?  Only when Alex Jones does the story?

Breitbart, the official Trump news outlet.

 

[FreeBaGeL]

You're the ones losing your #### over everything, not me.  Seems like it's really all of your crap polluting these threads.

Your entire purpose on this forum is to pop into threads and complain about stuff. It's all you do around here. You have literally complained more in this thread than anyone else while asserting that other people complain too much. 

If we didn't live in a world where a misogynist reality TV star that gets off on openly lying and bragging about assaulting women was elected president of the United States I would wonder how it's even possible for someone to act that way. 

 

[Ministry of Pain]

Your entire purpose on this forum is to pop into threads and complain about stuff. It's all you do around here. You have literally complained more in this thread than anyone else while asserting that other people complain too much. 

If we didn't live in a world where a misogynist reality TV star that gets off on openly lying and bragging about assaulting women was elected president of the United States I would wonder how it's even possible for someone to act that way. 

Poor Max, all he said was that he questioned the validity of the origins of the information which then somehow got twisted into him complaining. Not sure I read it the same way you are.

 

[rascal]

Poor Max, all he said was that he questioned the validity of the origins of the information which then somehow got twisted into him complaining. Not sure I read it the same way you are.

How many news sites do you/he need?

http://thehill.com/homenews/house/312430-house-gop-vote-to-rein-in-congressional-ethics-watchdog