Senate Considers Independent Ethics Office

[Rose Siding]

WASHINGTON Mar 2, 2006 (AP)— An independent ethics office is included in a lobbying reform package a Senate committee is taking up, putting on the table the sensitive issue of whether lawmakers are capable of policing themselves.
....
There's little controversy over many aspects of the bill based on a measure sponsored by Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Joe Lieberman, D-Conn. such as banning gifts and travel provided by lobbyists.

But there will be a fight over a provision, to be introduced by the committee chairman, Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine and Lieberman, the top Democrat, that would establish an office of public integrity to back up the work of the House and Senate ethics committees.
....
House and Senate Democrats have a bill that would create an office with auditing and investigative authority. Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., has proposed an ethics enforcement commission to receive complaints from the public on alleged ethics violations by lawmakers. Reps. Christopher Shays, R-Conn., and Marty Meehan, D-Mass., partners on campaign finance reform, have a similar proposal.
....
But there's also resistance from lawmakers who say an outside group to monitor ethics in Congress is both unneeded and unwise. Sen. George Voinovich, R-Ohio, who chairs the Senate ethics committee, plans to offer an amendment to remove the new office from the Collins proposal.

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=1678076&page=2

Pardon my emphasis but, wow. Obama's plan includes input from the public.

[Brooklyn Michael]

1. "whether lawmakers are capable of policing themselves."

Oh, well that's...<snicker>...a very debateable....pfffft....issue that should get........<snort>....serious consideration.....BWA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA!!!!

Ohhhhhhh, mercy that's funny.....needed that this morning....

[rodeodance]

2. to have input from the public is scary shit for many.

But there's also resistance from lawmakers who say an outside group to monitor ethics in Congress is both unneeded and unwise. Sen. George Voinovich, R-Ohio, who chairs the Senate ethics committee, plans to offer an amendment to remove the new office from the Collins proposal.

[magellan]

3. Great idea, good on Obama for actually wanting to include the people!!

It's a crying shame criminals like Voinovich have good reason never to give an independent group ethics oversight.

[zann725]

4. First thing Obama's done that shows TRUE Dem resolve.

Up until now, he's seemed like a DLC puppet. If this goes through, I'll be TRULY impressed. Certainly MUCH needed.

[Rose Siding]

5. It can't go through. Only a couple of dems have even signed on

but that's not Obama's fault.

[Bandit]

6. It will be tabled and this will be the last you ever hear of it

There will be no ethics investigations as long as GOP has control.