Obama Proposes Sweeping Ethics Reforms

[ProgressiveAmPatriot]

From MYDD:

Barack Obama is unveiling sweeping ethics reforms in a speech in New Hampshire today.

Following closely on the heels of yesterday's disclosure of his earmark requests -- and his earlier disclosures of his full tax records and his campaign bundlers, among other efforts -- Obama's pledge to enact bold ethics reforms on his first day as President solidifies his standing as the candidate most committed to bringing increased transparency to the business of government.

And his comprehensive recommendations are a strong rebuke to the abuses of the Bush administration, as well.

According to the press release, Obama's speech will:

1. Close the Revolving Door between Government and the private sector
2. End Abuse of No-Bid Contracts
3. Restore Objectivity to the Executive Branch
4. Increase Public Access to Information

UPDATE: The always excellent Greg Sargent at TPM Cafe's Election Central reports that Craig Holman of the Ralph Nader founded Public Citizen "endorses all the principles in Obama's speech. "These are all things we've been advocating for several years now," he says. "Obama has been working on many of these reforms for the last year."

More details and Sargent's full report below the fold...

http://www.mydd.com/story/2007/6/22/94735/7613

[GeorgeGist]

1. Why the false hype ...

"Obama's pledge to enact bold ethics reforms on his first day as President solidifies his standing as the candidate most committed to bringing increased transparency to the business of government."

Is Obama planning to bypass Congress and enact ethics reform by executive order?

[ProgressiveAmPatriot]

3. He is planning to start with executive orders that pertain to the executive from the first day,

followed by legislation which will admittedly not happen in a day (indeed it will take at least five, read his policy on posting bills online and waiting five days before signing), but could presumably be a part of an initial legislative push. Here is a link to the official campaign proposal: http://my.barackobama.com/page/-/pdf/Government%20Reform%20Two%20Pager.pdf

[Solo_in_MD]

2. This annoys me out of me

EVERY pol promises this, and every administration has ethics issues. While I continue to support Obama, I am really hoping for some originality.

[ProgressiveAmPatriot]

4. His promise to post legislation online and wait five days before signing is original

This was one of the major problems with the Patriot Act, no one had time to read it. Anyway, I would encourage you to read the full list of proposals. In general it is what all politicians talk about, but these are some of the major reforms that we need: http://my.barackobama.com/page/-/pdf/Government%20Reform%20Two%20Pager.pdf

[ripple]

5. The difference will be having it come from the Executive branch

Congress has shown over and over that they just don't have the will to pass any meaningful reform in this area- too many incumbents have become accustomed to business as usual.

Obama has done a lot of work with ethics reform as a Senator and unless a house of Congress flips again, I think he would have a pretty good chance of getting something substantive passed as president.

[Bullet1987]

6. Well Obama got ethics reforms passed in the State Senate...

so I don't see what's so unlikely about him saying it about the Presidency.

[Capn Sunshine]

7. wait for it.....

The inevitable HRC fans pile on

What ARE Hillary's proposals for ethics reform?

I know, let's ask Michael Moore.

[snowbear]

8. You aren't kidding...

Every time I log on here, the same handful of DLC/HRC's are bashing the living hell out of Senator Obama.

"Hey, so I love the DLC... so sue me"


I'm wondering if a day will go by when they don't SLAM Senator Obama for something?

And why is it that they only choose to diss him?

There are OTHER candidates in the race. Why do the DLC/HRC's only focus their anger at ONE candidate?

[SoxFan]

11. Not this DLCer!

I've been active in the DLC for several years, and I wholeheartedly support Barack Obama. In fact, the DLC itself has actually praised Obama for his work on ethics reform and passing a state-level Earned Income Tax Credit.

[UrbScotty]

9. From Daily Kos:

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/6/22/134213/498?detail=f

[ProgressiveAmPatriot]

10. Good luck Nader! You can't even get the endorsement of an organization you formed! n/t