quade 4 #1 January 3, 2017 QuoteWith No Warning, House Republicans Vote to Hobble Independent Ethics Office 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. Source and more: http://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/02/us/politics/with-no-warning-house-republicans-vote-to-hobble-independent-ethics-office.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=first-column-region®ion=top-news&WT.nav=top-news&_r=0 Well, I guess we know what is priority #1. Good god, have they no shame whatsoever? I mean, sure, politicians are going to violate ethics, but holy crap, at least have some shame about it and maintain the pretext.quade - The World's Most Boring Skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Phil1111 1,176 #2 January 3, 2017 Well stated. The US will have the wolves guarding the sheep. The foxes guarding the henhouse. What they should have done was introduced separate legislation to allow and fund the FBI to open a new office right on the hill. Such that any citizen who takes his complaint, or information, about corruption, or crimes, to an elected official. Then either gets no results or coverup. Can get immediate action and investigation. A separate office with in-house council and judges. With full funding to investigate US and non-US citizens, corporations and state actors. A politician investigating another politician in closed door or witness-less procedures. Yeah that will drain the swamp. There is a reason why there are checks and balances. Why self investigation of a police force by itself is not wise. "The proposal bars the ethics office from considering anonymous tips about potential ethics violations and prevents disclosures about investigations. Goodlatte said in a statement his proposal would ensure due process rights for lawmakers. Ethics watchdogs, however, warn that barring OCE from reviewing anonymous tips would impede whistleblowers who may fear blowback over a sensitive case." http://thehill.com/homenews/house/312430-house-gop-vote-to-rein-in-congressional-ethics-watchdog This type of self investigation is typical in African, South American and other regions where corruption, bribery and influence peddling is rampant. Countries where the ranking on the Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index already ranks the US 3 points below Australia. and 7 below Canada. http://www.transparency.org/cpi2015 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 2,146 #3 January 3, 2017 Even Trump called out the House GOP on this: With all that Congress has to work on, do they really have to make the weakening of the Independent Ethics Watchdog, as unfair as it may be, , their number one act and priority?" — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) Jan. 3, 2017... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wmw999 2,587 #4 January 3, 2017 I'm not sure I even want to imagine who thinks this is a good idea. Maybe if there were yet another ethics office being proposed, but dang. Wendy P.There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tkhayes 348 #5 January 3, 2017 Hey, we have been doing this for centuries. They put investigating sex abuse by the Catholic Brothers in the hands of the local bishop. that worked out well.... Outrage all over the pace...yeah right. Will anything be done about it? I am not holding my breath. It will be shelved as a good thing - "overreaching govt squashed in the name of whatever patriotic cause they have....." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quade 4 #6 January 3, 2017 kallend Even Trump called out the House GOP on this: With all that Congress has to work on, do they really have to make the weakening of the Independent Ethics Watchdog, as unfair as it may be, , their number one act and priority?" — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) Jan. 3, 2017 I'm reasonably certain I have this sussed out. It makes sense Trump would want the existing ethics panel and rules to remain in place for Congress since that means individual Congress people can't make individual deals around whatever Trump would want to do.quade - The World's Most Boring Skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkyDekker 1,465 #7 January 3, 2017 Looks like the proposal has already died. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Phil1111 1,176 #8 January 3, 2017 wmw999I'm not sure I even want to imagine who thinks this is a good idea. Maybe if there were yet another ethics office being proposed, but dang. Wendy P. Well there is this one: https://www.nytimes.com/newsgraphics/2016/news-tips/ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Phil1111 1,176 #9 January 3, 2017 Well...well...well... the pigs got the message.Might have to find another way to the full trough. "House Republicans Back Down on Bid to Gut Ethics Office" http://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/03/us/politics/trump-house-ethics-office.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=first-column-region®ion=top-news&WT.nav=top-news&_r=0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Channman 2 #10 January 3, 2017 quadeQuoteWith No Warning, House Republicans Vote to Hobble Independent Ethics Office 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. Source and more: http://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/02/us/politics/with-no-warning-house-republicans-vote-to-hobble-independent-ethics-office.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=first-column-region®ion=top-news&WT.nav=top-news&_r=0 Well, I guess we know what is priority #1. Good god, have they no shame whatsoever? I mean, sure, politicians are going to violate ethics, but holy crap, at least have some shame about it and maintain the pretext. Well, this is more Fake News than real news. The important thing to take away from all this is it was tabled. What did they say..."Republicans want to GUT Independent Ethics Committee..." this statement is why most Americans can't trust the Media anymore, it's all made up sound bites...the intent to my knowledge is the following: “builds upon and strengthens” the current arrangement and that it improves the due process rights for the House members under investigation and witnesses interviewed in the course of OCE probes. House Speaker Paul Ryan spoke out against the changes to the OCE and pushed instead for bipartisan action to overhaul the office. Trump himself said the House should focus on more importance issues such as taxes, and the health care law. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quade 4 #11 January 3, 2017 ChannmanWell, this is more Fake News than real news. No. This absolutely wasn't "fake news." Last night the GOP congress absolutely voted to do this. Today they backed off. That doesn't make it "fake news."quade - The World's Most Boring Skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
yoink 321 #12 January 3, 2017 Good on Mr Trump - he actually tweeted (his official method of communication I guess) that Congress should have more important things to do, and sure enough they've retracted that position - at least some of it has to be do with not wanting to fight their new President from day 1. That said, it's a really worrying indication of not only the priorities but also the ethics of the Republican party. I hope Trump can reign them in as much as they reign him in... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Channman 2 #13 January 3, 2017 quade***Well, this is more Fake News than real news. No. This absolutely wasn't "fake news." Last night the GOP congress absolutely voted to do this. Today they backed off. That doesn't make it "fake news." You are correct...I was making the point that the Head Line on News Print was Fake News "Republicans Gut the Office of Congressional Ethics" The word Gut was a deliberate SPIN WORD and did not reflect the modification that was being addressed. My understanding was the changes where to bar the OCE from investigating anonymous complaints, any allegation pulled out of thin air and thrown to see what sticks. Instead those complaints should be handed over to the House Ethics Committee and criminal acts to Law Enforcement. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhreeZone 20 #14 January 3, 2017 Here is what would be changing - under the current rules if a congressional staffer suspects that someone is doing a quid pro quo for votes he can anonymously report it to the Office of Government Ethics. The office would then be able to decide what to report to congress, the public and also refer the matter to the DOJ/Police if needed with out having congress being able to stop the referal. Under the proposed changes, there are no more anonymous reporting options so the reporter has to have their name associated with it and face repercussions from moment one. The new office was only going to be able to report to Congress, no more public disclosures nor referral to other agencies - only to the House Ethics Committee. This committee would have to then come to a resolution to send a member out for outside investigation. If said member is a member of the party that controls the Committee then the public might never find out and then the investigation can be halted just because of the desire keep seats safe from scandals.Yesterday is history And tomorrow is a mystery Parachutemanuals.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quade 4 #15 January 3, 2017 ChannmanI was making the point that the Head Line on News Print was Fake News "Republicans Gut the Office of Congressional Ethics" Let's reserve the term "fake news" for stories which are actually fake. The headline wasn't "fake," just poorly written.quade - The World's Most Boring Skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Phil1111 1,176 #16 January 3, 2017 yoinkGood on Mr Trump - he actually tweeted (his official method of communication I guess) that Congress should have more important things to do, and sure enough they've retracted that position - at least some of it has to be do with not wanting to fight their new President from day 1. That said, it's a really worrying indication of not only the priorities but also the ethics of the Republican party. I hope Trump can reign them in as much as they reign him in... Yes and YES Oversight of elected officials is the duty of every citizen. Its as important as voting. It gives an indication about the integrity of each person who voted to strike the oversight of the office. Drain the swamp, fake news and voters for trump. People don't trust politicians or their transparency of actions and politicians still don't get it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airdvr 210 #17 January 3, 2017 quade***I was making the point that the Head Line on News Print was Fake News "Republicans Gut the Office of Congressional Ethics" Let's reserve the term "fake news" for stories which are actually fake. The headline wasn't "fake," just poorly written. I don't think so. Using terms like "gutted" is unnecessary.Please don't dent the planet. Destinations by Roxanne Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkyDekker 1,465 #18 January 3, 2017 airdvr******I was making the point that the Head Line on News Print was Fake News "Republicans Gut the Office of Congressional Ethics" Let's reserve the term "fake news" for stories which are actually fake. The headline wasn't "fake," just poorly written. I don't think so. Using terms like "gutted" is unnecessary. Why? That is effectively what it would have done. How would you have written the headline? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airdvr 210 #19 January 3, 2017 SkyDekker*********I was making the point that the Head Line on News Print was Fake News "Republicans Gut the Office of Congressional Ethics" Let's reserve the term "fake news" for stories which are actually fake. The headline wasn't "fake," just poorly written. I don't think so. Using terms like "gutted" is unnecessary. Why? That is effectively what it would have done. How would you have written the headline? It doesn't matter how I would write it. All of the news services are competing for your attention. It's the same as Skydiver Plunges to Their Death. ETA Yellow journalism - a type of journalism that presents little or no legitimate well-researched news and instead uses eye-catching headlines to sell more newspapers.[1] Techniques may include exaggerations of news events, scandal-mongering or sensationalism.[1] By extension, the term yellow journalism is used today as a pejorative to decry any journalism that treats news in an unprofessional or unethical fashion.[2]Please don't dent the planet. Destinations by Roxanne Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 3,111 #20 January 3, 2017 >>Well, this is more Fake News than real news. >?No. This absolutely wasn't "fake news." I think a lot of people here use the term "fake news" to mean "news I don't want to hear." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quade 4 #21 January 3, 2017 billvon>>Well, this is more Fake News than real news. >?No. This absolutely wasn't "fake news." I think a lot of people here use the term "fake news" to mean "news I don't want to hear." Agreed. Further, I think people should call them out on it. Fake news is fake news. Poor reporting or reporting a person doesn't agree with doesn't make it fake.quade - The World's Most Boring Skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gowlerk 2,274 #22 January 4, 2017 QuoteWell, this is more Fake News than real news. What part of the story is fake?Always remember the brave children who died defending your right to bear arms. Freedom is not free. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wolfriverjoe 1,523 #23 January 4, 2017 quade***>>Well, this is more Fake News than real news. >?No. This absolutely wasn't "fake news." I think a lot of people here use the term "fake news" to mean "news I don't want to hear." Agreed. Further, I think people should call them out on it. Fake news is fake news. Poor reporting or reporting a person doesn't agree with doesn't make it fake. Right. But when some people call stuff they don't like or disagree with "Fake", it allows them to disregard it. They can say "That's fake, so I don't have to believe it". Or "you called my story fake, so I'm calling yours fake". The sophistication and pervasiveness of propaganda these days is pretty frightening. The level of stupidity in the people who believe this is too."There are NO situations which do not call for a French Maid outfit." Lucky McSwervy "~ya don't GET old by being weak & stupid!" - Airtwardo Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JerryBaumchen 1,466 #24 January 4, 2017 Hi Joe, QuoteThe level of stupidity in the people who believe this is too. IMO this is the real scary part. Just like the dufus that wanted to shoot up the pizza joint because ' . . . he heard . . . ' Jerry Baumchen PS) To some people I am a drama queen but, to me, this is still familiar to Germany in the early 30's. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wolfriverjoe 1,523 #25 January 4, 2017 JerryBaumchenHi Joe, QuoteThe level of stupidity in the people who believe this is too. IMO this is the real scary part. Just like the dufus that wanted to shoot up the pizza joint because ' . . . he heard . . . ' Jerry Baumchen PS) To some people I am a drama queen but, to me, this is still familiar to Germany in the early 30's. I don't see a "drama queen" in that. Trump's whole campaign has been straight out of "Demagogues For Dummies"."There are NO situations which do not call for a French Maid outfit." Lucky McSwervy "~ya don't GET old by being weak & stupid!" - Airtwardo Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
