The fact that Republicans place Tom DeLay's political hide ahead of the people's interest is yet another indication that this leadership is out of touch with American values. Here is the background/fact check on the GOP culture of corruption, which I distributed today to the media and my colleagues around the Hill. Please help us get this information out, and let me know what you think. Thank you!
-LMS
CULUTURE OF CORRUPTION BACKGROUND/FACT CHECKSpeaker suggesting ethics refresher for lawmakers: The Office of House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert is suggesting "new ethics training for lawmakers," so that members of both parties can better "understand the nuances of House rules." [Carl Hulse, "House Speakers Suggests Ethics Refresher," The New York Times,
12/8/05].
GOP leadership scheduling longer recess to buy DeLay valuable time: Reports indicate that the GOP leadership is going to schedule the second House session of the 109th Congress to begin on Jan. 31 - after a holiday break of more than a month, and two weeks after Senators are due to return to Washington. The late start buys indicted former Majority Leader Tom Delay valuable time during which his money laundering case in Texas can be resolved, as new leadership elections could not occur until the House is back in session. [Ben Pershing, "House Plants to Sit Out January, Roll Call,
12/7/05, Rick Klein, "House Republicans quietly pushing for new leadership," the Boston Globe,
12/7/05]
Conservative Pundits Agree: There is Nothing "Nuanced" about the Total Collapse of Ethical Conduct in the House::
Former Republican Congressman Joe Scarborough implies as many as 60 congressional lawmakers may be linked to the corruption scandals engulfing the Capitol Hill: "You know, Duke Cunningham got caught, but the question many Americans are asking is, how deep is the congressional cesspool? Six members are currently under investigation for possible crimes and ethics violations. And some reports say the number could go as high as 60. What in the heck is going on in the nation's capital?" [Joe Scarborough on "Scarborough Country,"
11/29/05].
The Washington Times Concerned about GOP's Culture of Corruption:"I believe the root of the current Republican scandal wave is that the party's governing element in Washington has completely forgotten why they were elected in the first place." [Bruce Bartlett, "Corruption Creep in GOP," The Washington Times,
11/30/05]
Calls for Reform of the House Ethics Process, the House Ethics Committee and Demands for Ethical Accountability has Bi-partisan Support: :
Republican Senator John McCain expressed his concern about the ethics scandals within his own party on NBC's Meet the Press: "I don't think the Ethics Committees are working very well. The latest Cunningham scandal was uncovered by the San Diego newspaper, not by anyone here...." [Senator John McCain on NBC's "Meet the Press,"
12/4/05]
Even former Speaker Newt Gingrich is tired of the Republican culture of corruption epitomized by Abramoff and Cunningham: "Gingrich said he was deeply troubled by the resignation Monday of Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham, R-Calif., and by the widening bribery and ethics investigation into the activities of lobbyist Jack Abramoff. "Frankly, it sickens me," Gingrich said. He called on Republicans to lead on ethics reform." [Glen Warchol, "Gingrich implores GOP to 'clean it up',The Salt Lake Tribune,
12/2/05]
Conservative Judicial Watch laments lack of ethics enforcement:: "There is no ethics enforcement in Congress today, and it's inexcusable." [Tom Fitton, President of Judicial Watch, a conservative monitor of government ethics, Jeffrey H. Birnbaum, "In a Season of Scandals, Ethics Panels Are on Sidelines," The Washington Post,
12/5/05]
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