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December 10, 2006

If Congress Is Serious About Reform, Here's What It Looks Like

Topics: Political News and commentaries

Dick Morris has a few ideas for the Democrats if they are really serious about real ethics refor.

However, I really doubt that members on both sides of the aisle are willing to do such common sense things as ban spousal and family employment by campaign committees and PACs, ban immediate family members of senators or congressmen from lobbying Congress, restore presidential power to line-item veto earmarks in appropriations bills and reverse the anti-impoundment legislation passed during the Nixon administration and enact other necessary reforms such as:

- Require lobbyists to disclose the specific bills that they are lobbying for or against on the lobbying registration forms.

- Ban all privately paid travel by members, including use of corporate jets.

- Require electronic filing of all travel disclosures for private and government travel.

- Require both chambers to work a full week, instead of the two- to three-day schedule theyíve had for the past few years.

- Don't hold your breath waiting for these reforms, but they do represent what Congress should do if it wants to come clean.

The odds of winning the lottery are far greater than us seeing true reform in Congress. However, the fact that it hasn't already occurred is testament to the corruption in government and our collective willingness to give our political leaders a pass on forgotten ethics and criminal acts while in public service.

And then there's the issue of what our tolerance of corruption says about the electorate and our relativist, faithless, and valueless society.

Hat tip - Harry Owens

Posted by Richard at December 10, 2006 8:19 AM

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