Nebraska Democratic Party Response to House GOP Gutting Ethics
Trumps Floods the Swamp
Quote:
“Donald Trump and his Republican Party are living up to our worst expectations by gutting basic checks and balances our government has in place with basic ethics rules,” said Jane Kleeb, Chair of the Nebraska Democratic Party. “Nebraskans want to know how Fischer, Sasse, Bacon, Fortenberry and Smith intend to vote on Republicans flooding the swamp by gutting the ethics office.”
Background:
Between 2-4pm EST today, House Republicans will vote on gutting the office that serves as the ethics watchdog as part of a Rules package.
The Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE) was created to prevent the kind of corruption that appalled voters the last time the Republicans had one-party control in Washington. By crippling the OCE, House Republicans are signaling a return to the days of Jack Abramoff and Tom DeLay (both who served jail time), when Republican corruption in Congress ran rampant. Americans who were misled by Trump’s empty promise to drain the swamp should be livid at this latest corrupt power grab by Washington Republicans.
On the first day of the 115th Congress, Republicans are advancing a set of new rules for the new Congress – a power grab tailor-made to grease the GOP’s special interest agenda at the expense of the American people.
Eliminating Independent House Ethics Oversight – The night before the new Congress, the House GOP has eliminated the only independent ethics oversight of their actions. Republicans have voted to destroy the Office of Congressional Ethics, preventing it from reviewing anonymous complaints and moving it under the control of the Committee on Ethics. Instead of working for the highest ethical standards, House Republicans have acted to silence would-be whistleblowers and make it easier to hide their misconduct from the American people.
While the American people worry for the financial security of their families, Republicans are opening the new Congress by dismantling the ethics of the House, betraying their own principles, and trying to silence the voices of the American people on the House floor.
Action:
The Nebraska Democratic Party is asking all Nebraskans to call the House and Senate Republican Members of Congress who represent our state and take action, the Congressional switchboard number to reach all Members of Congress is (202) 224-3121. Ask them this basic question, “Will you ensure Trump and the House Republicans do not flood the swamp with corruption by voting to protect the Office of Congressional Ethics?”
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Update: House GOP has now signaled they will pull this reckless idea to gut the ethics office. As Democrats in Nebraska we stand ready to keep them accountable if they try this move again.
