Feingold, Obama introduce ethics plan Monday

[jefferson_dem]

Feingold, Obama introduce ethics plan Monday
FREDERIC J. FROMMER
Associated Press

WASHINGTON - Sen. Russ Feingold introduced legislation with Sen. Barack Obama on Monday to strengthen ethics laws for members of Congress, getting an early start as the new Democratic majority in the Senate takes up the issue.

"This could be one of the best moments in many, many years, in terms of ethics in Washington," Feingold said in a telephone interview.

The bill by Feingold, D-Wis., and Obama, D-Ill., would, among other things, ban lobbyists and the groups that employ them from making gifts to members, create an Office of Public Integrity to investigate ethics complaints, and ban members from negotiating for future work as lobbyists. It would also require lawmakers and campaigns to pay the charter rate for the use of corporate jets, rather than the far cheaper first class rate.

"The American people put their faith in us so we could restore their faith in government," said Obama, "and this is our chance to make that happen."

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"I'm real optimistic that we're going to get at least major elements of it passed," said Feingold, a longtime champion of increased ethics in government. "... It's very clear from the election results that people, as a prerequisite for our doing other things, want us to clean up the corruption."

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http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/news/breaking_news/16412705.htm

[goforit]

1. Great, but WWIII will take presidence over ethical laws.OUTSIDE THE BOX, boys.