I think the following editorial hits the nail on the head about what I have been saying about John Boehner and the House Republicans on ethics.The Times Union writes, "So perhaps lobbying reform is coming to Congress. That would be the more optimistic view, taken by House Republican leader John Boehner of Ohio and in contrast to fears in the Senate that the moment has been lost, and perhaps for good.
Yet even Mr. Boehner's optimism only goes so far. The measures he's so confident of passing wouldn't change the prevailing political culture of Washington very much. The House Republicans prefer the route of modest measures, such as mere disclosure of the gifts lobbyists give to lawmakers, as opposed to a more sensible outright ban. As for the trips that lobbyists delight in treating impressionable congressmen to, they'd be banned -- but only temporarily.
The idea is that the House ethics committee could come up with some rules for its members to follow when accepting free airplane travel and the like. The simplest of such rules, of course, would be not to take any free trips, or gifts or meals.
In the Senate, a ban on gifts and meals from lobbyists has been passed. But there's little support for curtailing travel and keeping lawmakers off corporate jets.
What Mr. Boehner and the rest are peddling is more political survival than substantive change in the way Congress would actually operate. They're calculating, in essence, that the new laws that wouldn't really change the way members go about their business or restrict the influence of lobbyists will satisfy a public that's understandably repulsed by the Jack Abramoff and Randy Cunningham scandals. Problem is, it might work.
A properly skeptical public should assess the optimism of House leaders this way. If their notion of lobbying reform doesn't do away with the freebies and perks entirely, and establish a means of enforcing those lobbying laws, it's hardly worth embracing. A Senate committee already has rejected an independent office to investigate ethics abuses.
Perhaps Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, was on to something when she lamented to The New York Times last week, "People have turned to other issues. This was our window, and I'm afraid it will be slammed shut."
Amen!
John Boehner has made it clear he is against any real reform in the area of ethics in Washington.
However, reform must happen, even if it is without him.
The people of this nation deserve it! Trust must be restored to our government!
Congress should follow Congressman Ford's lead in cleaning up Washington!
Read about Congressman Ford's actions on ethics reform here! (1 , 2, 3)
Read about John Boehner's views opposing ethics reform here!
Read about John Boehner's broken promises regarding ethics reform here!
