Bad Ethics Bombshell Coincides With Poll Of Lawmakers: Our Ethics Enforcement Is Good Enough

A confidential ethics committee report leaked to the Washington Post reveals that more than 30 members of the House are currently facing ethics investigations, including seven members of the House Appropriations defense subcommittee.

The Post's big scoop comes less than a week after the National Journal's poll of lawmakers that shows both Democrat and GOP lawmakers are confident in the ethics oversight of their own party.

The National Journal asked members of Congress, "Are your party's leaders doing enough to police congressional ethics in your own party?"

Of the 37 Democrats polled, 62 percent said they were, in fact, confident in their party's ethics policing. Republicans, meanwhile, are even more confident -- of the 36 lawmakers polled, 81 percent voted yes.

The mag also provided some choice quotes from lawmakers. One Dem said, "Let's not forget: It wasn't until the Democrats took over the majority that Congress adopted strengthened rules of ethical oversight."

A Republican said, "We've had more than our share of issues, but Boehner has shown he's willing to ask members to step aside when it becomes necessary. Dems can't say the same."

Some of the cases disclosed in the ethics committee's confidential report were already known, such as inquiries into lawmakers with connections to the defunct lobbying firm PMA Group. But the report reveals that the investigation is broader than previously thought.

Those seven defense subcommittee members funneled more than $200 million in earmarks to PMA Group clients over the last two years and received more than $6.2 million in campaign contributions from PMA over the last decade, the Post reported.

Comments

[NoelGreco]

This got pulled down pretty quickly.

Pelosi was going to drain the swamp, but realized that her gills would dry out.

[jdl51]

It's time to clean house. Strip them of their seniority or worse if there's any wrongdoing. These guys should be made an example of and I believe it will help our chances if we can police our own and show the public that we won't let this stuff go unpunished. It was republican corruption that helped us move into the majority and if we don't do something about it, we could share the same fate.

[JPE33180]

Get rid of the crooks - if there is evidence of wrong doing they should loose their positions and freedom. Furthermore, anyone dealing with defense companies, insurance companies and drug companies on the nation's behalf should also count on high scrutiny of their behavior and finances to make sure everything is above board.

[Plebean]

Nothing will come of this they'll all walk

[clutchkill]

What a coinky dink.