Watchdogs fear loss of new ethics czar

[The Northerner]

Public interest groups hope the White House appoints another ethics czar if the current officeholder leaves, thereby institutionalizing a position President Barack Obama created.

Speculation has been rife that Norm Eisen, the president’s special counsel for ethics and government reform, will be nominated for U.S. ambassador to the Czech Republic. A White House spokesman declined to comment on press reports saying so and Eisen did not respond to messages asking for comment.

Eisen is the first person to hold the position, which Obama created in the White House Counsel’s office. Watchdogs worry that if he leaves, priorities for the administration may shift away from campaign finance and ethics.

Reform advocates said they would want the White House to fill Eisen’s seat as soon as he was confirmed and headed off to Prague.

“Obviously, we would very much hope that this position would be maintained and filled by someone who is just as committed to the reform agenda,” said Fred Wertheimer, president of Democracy 21, a campaign finance watchdog group.

Craig Holman, government affairs lobbyist for Public Citizen, agreed, saying the White House should find a replacement. “I sincerely hope and expect that Norm Eisen’s career change in no way signals a shift in priorities for the White House,” he said.

Read more: http://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/92611-watchdogs-fear-loss-of-ethics-post-

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

1. the hill of bullshit