House to Consider Relaxing Its Rules

[tuvor]

House Republican leaders are urging members to alter one of the chamber's fundamental ethics rules, which would make it harder for lawmakers to discipline a colleague.

The proposed change would essentially negate a general rule of conduct that the ethics committee has often cited in admonishing lawmakers -- including Majority Leader Tom DeLay -- for bringing discredit on the House even if their behavior was not covered by a specific regulation. Backers of the rule, adopted three decades ago, say it is important because the House's conduct code cannot anticipate every instance of questionable behavior that might reflect poorly on the chamber.

Republicans, returning to the Capitol on Tuesday after increasing their House majority by three seats in the Nov. 2 election, also want to relax a restriction on relatives of lawmakers accepting foreign and domestic trips from groups interested in legislation before the House.

A third proposed rule change would allow either party to stop the House ethics committee from investigating a complaint against a member.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/washpost/20041231/pl_washpost/a37521_2004dec30

[ecoalex]

1. Why don't they just give them immunity ?

That's where they're headed. Like bus* they can do no wrong.

[pdxmom]

2. I read this today and was amazed

And of course, the MSM isn't covering this at all. It tells me that the Repubs have a lot they want to hide and now they're all but telling us that they are dishonest, think it's ok, and don't intend to ever be held accountable for it.

[AndyTiedye]

3. Ethics, Who Needs Ethics?

Hain't they got the power?

[renaissanceguy]

4. When you're at the top

it doesn't matter what those below you think about you.

At the same time, voters should be outraged by this. Imagine, WE give these ASSHOLES their jobs. Therefore, they should be accountable to US.

Until Americans wake up and understand that, we're running toward fascism.

http://www.cafepress.com/liberalissues.15010804

[jdj]

5. could yahoo hem and haw any worse around this story?

gee public, we hate to HAVE to report this, but, shucks, since we're a news outlet, I guess we're s'posed to or something...

[tuvor]

6. Washington Post is the source.

That may explain the tone.

Yahoo is just the messenger.

[Deja Q]

7. WHy would a so-called party of ethics need to do this?

And shouldf an opposition party get back in, will the same laxness work for them too?

[Moderator]

8. duplicate

discuss here

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1108107