Yesterday there was a bit of pundit discussion of the GOP trying to take the wind from the Democratic sails regarding its multi-pronged Clean Sweep campaign.
Indeed Rep. Slaughter has pointed out here that there will be a set of speeches (live blogging going on) focused on the GOP's newly discovered "Reform" talking point.
Actually, there's more than just speechifying going on here.
More posted below...
Rep. Slaughter also notes that House Dems are presenting:
House Democrats rules reform package:Congressmen Obey (D-WI), Frank (D-MA), Price (D-NC), and Allen (D-ME) announced a reform package in early December of 2005 that would, among other things:
* Put a stop to lobbyists funding or arranging Congressional travel.
* Curb lobbying on the House floor by former members of Congress.
* Prohibit members from using earmarks to buy votes.
* Crack down on the practice of holding votes open to allow for more time through intimidation to twist arms and change votes.
* Give members of Congress a chance to fully read legislation before voting on it.
Excellent! This is echoed by The Honest Leadership Act.
Give 'Em Hell Harry has posted this Democratic Declaration of "Honest Leadership and Open Government"
On November 19, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln traveled to a battlefield cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and urged his countrymen to dedicate themselves to the preservation of �government of the people, by the people and for the people.� It is to this same cause that we, the undersigned, dedicate ourselves today.
Throughout the history of our democracy, there has been an ongoing struggle to put the people�s interest ahead of the special interests. Since the Republican Party took complete control of the White House, the House of Representatives, and the U.S. Senate, cronyism and corruption have become widespread in the people�s government.
The culture of Republican corruption is an affront to the idea of a representative democracy, and its consequences are devastating. When Vice-President Cheney�s Chief of Staff Scooter Libby, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, House Majority Leader Tom DeLay and others bend government to serve their own interest, or the special interest of their friends, the public interest suffers and the urgent priorities of the American people go unaddressed.
Today, Democrats across America--including those in the U.S. House and Senate, our governors, mayors and state legislators--are declaring that it is time to end the Republican culture of corruption prevailing through all levels of government. We are committed to immediate change to lead this country in a new direction, to put an end to Republican business as usual, and to make certain this nation�s leaders serve the people�s interests, not special interests. For us, this commitment spans our lifetime, as we were elected to represent the people, not the powerful.
Our goal is to restore accountability, honesty and openness at all levels of government. To do so, we will create and enforce rules that demand the highest ethics from every public servant, sever unethical ties between lawmakers and lobbyists, and establish clear standards that prevent the trading of official business for gifts.
Honest leadership is not a partisan goal. It is the key to a stronger union. We must all work together to put progress ahead of politics. Together, America can do better. We can change this government, and the American people deserve nothing less.
Our government must reflect the absolute best of the people it serves. With honest leadership and open government, America's leaders can once again focus on the urgent needs of the American people: real security overseas and at home, economic strength and educational excellence, affordable health care, energy independence, and retirement security.
In 2006, we, the undersigned, hereby declare that we will once again provide honest leadership and open government for all our citizens and put the Republican culture of corruption behind us, so we can make progress on the real issues facing America.
Honest leadership is the key to a stronger union. This is exactly the idea that many of us have been looking for.
If you can't trust leadership, what then? This question hearkens back to another minor piece of paper.
And I'm having visions of Paul Revere riding around the townships announcing "The Reforms are Coming! The Reforms are Coming!"
There's also an Honest Leadership petition going on over at Give 'Em Hell Harry.