Ethics Reforms by Wulfenstar

REAL WORLD EVENT DISCUSSIONS

Ethics Reforms

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POSTED BY: WULFENSTAR
UPDATED: Thursday, August 12, 2010 05:15
SHORT URL: http://goo.gl/K0rFa
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Thursday, August 12, 2010 5:06 AM

http://youtu.be/VUnGTXRxGHg

Dick Morris's latest article includes suggestions for ethics reform in Congress. Some of these could also apply to states as well. What do you think about the list?

The reforms should include:

• The establishment of an office of special prosecutor for Congress, with its head appointed by the chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court for a fixed term. The office should have subpoena power, a well-funded staff and the right to convene grand juries and issue indictments. Self-policing by ethics committees obviously does not work.

• All earmarking should be banned. Congress cannot be trusted with this power.

• A ban on spouses of members of Congress serving on boards or accepting employment by any company or organization that receives federal funds. In cases like Mrs. Chris Dodd and Mrs. Evan Bayh, corporate board employment was a way for special interests to influence their husbands and pad the family checkbook.

• A ban on families of members of Congress serving as lobbyists.

• No free travel, whether sponsored by foundations or lobbyists. Only government trips on official business — real business — should be allowed.

• Full disclosure of the precise amounts of members' net worth, debts, investments and holdings, including home mortgages.

•Full publication, online, of all committee votes.

• No student loan repayments for congressional staffers.

• A five-year ban on lobbying for members of Congress or their staffs after leaving office. The ban should also apply to employment by a company that performs lobbying services.

• If a senator or congressman is absent more than 10 percent of the time for reasons other than illness — including running for president — his pay should be docked proportionately.

• Term limits for congressional staffers. No staff member of Congress should be permitted to serve in a job that pays above $100,000 a year for more than eight years. If we can't get term limits for Congress, let's at least clean out the professional staffers!

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Thursday, August 12, 2010 5:15 AM

THENEWIMPROVEDKANEMAN

Sure but will Waters or Rangle follow any rules?

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