Trump inauguration

[Denny Crane]

Why not just quote the article you just linked instead of making up some babbling summary?

From your link.

House Republicans on Monday quietly voted to strip the independent power from an outside ethics panel established eight years ago following a string of corruption scandals, a move they made just hours before the start of the 115th Congress,

...

The provision's most important feature changes the OCE from an independent entity to a body that falls under the jurisdiction of the House Ethics Committee, a 10-member, bipartisan committee of lawmakers that rarely hands out serious punishment.


Come on Denny, this is the top thing, first on the list, that needed to be done this year? All of the problems we're facing as nation and weakening the ethics laws is what is done first?

This congress wanted to do it. Republicans controlled the house for 6 years and could have done this any time.

The old committe had no power to do anything but refer to the ethics committee, that rarely hands out serious punishment.

 

[Denny Crane]

As long as you're quoting my link:

The OCE is currently able to review complaints, but can't determine guilt or dole out punishment. Instead, the office can decide whether to refer a matter to the House Ethics Committee, which has the authority to investigate and potentially issue punishment ranging from a letter of reprimand to expulsion.​

 

[SlyPokerDog]

This congress wanted to do it. Republicans controlled the house for 6 years and could have done this any time.

The old committe had no power to do anything but refer to the ethics committee, that rarely hands out serious punishment.

Okay, that would make perfect sense and I would completely agree with it if this were to strengthen the powers of the OCE. But this doesn't. This isn't "Draining the swamp" this is making it easier for the swamp scum in both parties to breed.

 

[Denny Crane]

Okay, that would make perfect sense and I would completely agree with it if this were to strengthen the powers of the OCE. But this doesn't. This isn't "Draining the swamp" this is making it easier for the swamp scum in both parties to breed.

It's preventing abusive partisan attacks.

Over 1/2 were bullshit. 18 of 35.

All those 18 accused were dragged through the mud, for no good reason. PUBLICLY.

I'm all for throwing the book at the crooks. The Democrats' plan did none of that.

 

[Denny Crane]

And here's why they did it now.

https://www.bna.com/office-congressional-ethics-n73014449218/

The Office of Congressional Ethics, an independent investigatory unit that screens ethics allegations against House lawmakers and has faced controversy in the past, is set to be reauthorized when the new Congress convenes in January.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

It's preventing abusive partisan attacks.

Over 1/2 were bullshit. 18 of 35.

All those 18 accused were dragged through the mud, for no good reason. PUBLICLY.

I'm all for throwing the book at the crooks. The Democrats' plan did none of that.

So instead of making it easier to investigate ethics violations we make it harder? 435 members in the House and only 17 committed an ethics violation?!?

 

[SlyPokerDog]

And here's why they did it now.

https://www.bna.com/office-congressional-ethics-n73014449218/

The Office of Congressional Ethics, an independent investigatory unit that screens ethics allegations against House lawmakers and has faced controversy in the past, is set to be reauthorized when the new Congress convenes in January.

Read your own link. Leaders from both parties and independent watch dog groups wanted to keep what we have now. Now we don't even have that.

 

[Denny Crane]

So instead of making it easier to investigate ethics violations we make it harder? 435 members in the House about only 17 committed an ethics violation?!?

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/watchdogs-ethics-process-is-grindingly-slow/article/2609472

For example, neither the office nor the committee has subpoena power. The panel must note when it has received a referral, but it can repeatedly extend the review period, effectively shelving complaints.

In fact, that seems to be what the committee most often does, sometimes with the result that lawmakers leave Congress before any action is taken.

Former Rep. Chaka Fattah, D-Pa., resigned from Congress this summer before the panel's investigative subcommittee completed its work. Fattah was convicted in June of racketeering, bribery and other crimes.

...

Whitaker said the OCE office is unnecessary.

"You've added a whole other step in the process," he said. "The OCE provides a valuable nonpartisan review of ethics complaints in the House, but I'm not convinced that that extra step is worth it at the end of the day," he said, adding that committee staff could do what the OCE does.

Three other referrals have languished before the committee as long as the one regarding McMorris Rodgers.

The committee has extended its reviews of allegations lodged in 2014 against Reps. Luis Gutierrez and Bobby Rush, both Democrats from Illinois, and Rep. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla.

 

[Denny Crane]

Read your own link. Leaders from both parties and independent watch dog groups wanted to keep what we have now. Now we don't even have that.

So what? People of both parties voted to kill the committee.

When does "minority rule" in congressional votes?

 

[PDXFonz]

Somebody should send a mariachi band.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/watchdogs-ethics-process-is-grindingly-slow/article/2609472

For example, neither the office nor the committee has subpoena power. The panel must note when it has received a referral, but it can repeatedly extend the review period, effectively shelving complaints.

In fact, that seems to be what the committee most often does, sometimes with the result that lawmakers leave Congress before any action is taken.

Former Rep. Chaka Fattah, D-Pa., resigned from Congress this summer before the panel's investigative subcommittee completed its work. Fattah was convicted in June of racketeering, bribery and other crimes.

...

Whitaker said the OCE office is unnecessary.

"You've added a whole other step in the process," he said. "The OCE provides a valuable nonpartisan review of ethics complaints in the House, but I'm not convinced that that extra step is worth it at the end of the day," he said, adding that committee staff could do what the OCE does.

Three other referrals have languished before the committee as long as the one regarding McMorris Rodgers.

The committee has extended its reviews of allegations lodged in 2014 against Reps. Luis Gutierrez and Bobby Rush, both Democrats from Illinois, and Rep. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla.

Again, from your own link.

The process is "not as expedient once cases get to the Ethics Committee" and "they are forced to look and take on the unpleasant task of judging their colleagues," said Public Citizen's Lisa Gilbert said.

The failure of the Ethics Committee to move with dispatch has created a problem now that President-elect Trump reportedly will tap Republican Conference Chairwoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington to be his interior secretary. McMorris Rodgers faces allegations that she mixed official, leadership, political action committee and campaign funds in violation of House rules.

...

The bipartisan committee is also slowly examining the actions of another high-profile member, Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., whose colleagues just elected chairman of the House Freedom Caucus.

On March 18, the OCE recommended that the committee investigate payments to his former chief of staff that continued months after he left Meadows' office. On Aug. 17, the committee said it needed more time to determine if it should open an investigation. Meadows himself asked the committee to look into the matter in November 2015.

...

The OCE is an independent agency created in response to claims that Congress was not policing itself enough through the Ethics Committee. Numerous scandals, some of which ended in lawmakers and staffers going to jail, came to light between 2006-2008, but the Ethics Committee ignored the allegations.

The office has a professional staff that investigates allegations of wrongdoing and presents a case to an eight-member board, which then decides whether to refer the matter to the bipartisan Ethics Committee for adjudication.

"It's a really important decision," Gilbert said of the House's 2008 decision to create the office. "It has to be rewritten into the rules every Congress. We are paying close attention to make sure that OCE stays in place. It's just been a critical new link in making sure that members of Congress are ethical."

Its staff does "a good job in a nonpartisan manner" of determining which allegations to send to the Ethics Committee for review, said the Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust's Matthew Whitaker.

Although watchdogs agree the OCE has forced the Ethics Committee to be more active — it was basically dormant between 2002 and 2008, before the OCE was created — they say the process could still be improved.

For example, neither the office nor the committee has subpoena power. The panel must note when it has received a referral, but it can repeatedly extend the review period, effectively shelving complaints.

In fact, that seems to be what the committee most often does, sometimes with the result that lawmakers leave Congress before any action is taken.


So instead of strengthening rules and investigative tools we weaken them.

 

[Denny Crane]

The rules weren't strong in the first place. Instead, they actually hurt the wrong people and affected none of the right ones.

The committee wasn't needed to send Abramoff to jail. The committee did nothing as Fatah went to prison.

 

[oldfisherman]

Mexico is gearing up for their Trump inauguration celebration. Factories all over the country are busy making tons of Trump pinatas. Here is one sample, some of them could not wait to get started.

 

[riverman]

making it easier for the swamp scum in both parties to breed.

but it worked so well in the roaring 20s!

 

[Denny Crane]

http://www.speaker.gov/general/10-f...own-ethics-committee-investigation-democratic

 

[riverman]

I've got one thing to say about Trump and immigration.....don't fuck with Los Lobos!

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Just hours before the start of the 115th Congress...

 

[Denny Crane]

Today, the new congress is sworn in.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

It's funny how Trump gets it but @Denny Crane doesn't. It's exactly what I said.

http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/312463-trump-slaps-gop-for-weakening-ethics-watchdog

 

[blue32]

I don't see a weakening. It appears as they want more visibility to it. At least from what I understand of the language from the article on Fox.

Under the ethics change pushed by Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., the non-partisan Office of Congressional Ethics would fall under the control of the House Ethics Committee, which is run by lawmakers. It would be known as the Office of Congressional Complaint Review, and the rule change would require that "any matter that may involve a violation of criminal law must be referred to the Committee on Ethics for potential referral to law enforcement agencies after an affirmative vote by the members," according to Goodlatte's office.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

I don't see a weakening. It appears as they want more visibility to it. At least from what I understand of the language from the article on Fox.

Under the ethics change pushed by Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., the non-partisan Office of Congressional Ethics would fall under the control of the House Ethics Committee, which is run by lawmakers. It would be known as the Office of Congressional Complaint Review, and the rule change would require that "any matter that may involve a violation of criminal law must be referred to the Committee on Ethics for potential referral to law enforcement agencies after an affirmative vote by the members," according to Goodlatte's office.

Trump sees it as a weakening.



And also Trump and I agree that with all the problems facing our country this not the right thing to focus on changing right out of the gate.

 

[Denny Crane]

It wasn't right out of the gate, it was just before the last gate closed.

This congress had to vote on the Bill of which this is just one minor provision. The House's job is to control the purse strings, and this Bill is actually them doing their job.

 

[blue32]

Trump sees it as a weakening.



And also Trump and I agree that with all the problems facing our country this not the right thing to focus on changing right out of the gate.

Guys, for the last time, just because Trump says it doesn't mean I (myself) agree. We have different opinions on the matter. I know that comes as a surprise, but both you and SedatedFork can't seem to understand that. Or maybe I am misunderstanding your post.

I will say, I do agree with your last sentence, but at least they are actually doing stuff instead of having a fart-in.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Guys, for the last time, just because Trump says it doesn't mean I (myself) agree. We have different opinions on the matter. I know that comes as a surprise, but both you and SedatedFork can't seem to understand that. Or maybe I am misunderstanding your post.

I will say, I do agree with your last sentence, but at least they are actually doing stuff instead of having a fart-in.

Actually I'm glad you're not going to agree with Trump on everything.

 

[blue32]

Actually I'm glad you're not going to agree with Trump on everything.

We don't agree on a few things, Climate, Abortion, etc. But that's okay, because the alternative (globalism) was shit, and at least Trump is pro-America/Nationalism (and no, not the MSM narrative of white nationalism).

 

[UncleCliffy'sDaddy]

Guys, for the last time, just because Trump says it doesn't mean I (myself) agree. We have different opinions on the matter. I know that comes as a surprise, but both you and SedatedFork can't seem to understand that. Or maybe I am misunderstanding your post.

I will say, I do agree with your last sentence, but at least they are actually doing stuff instead of having a fart-in.

We actually agree! Because for the last 6+ years the Republican Congress passed a great deal of gas and little else......

 

[blue32]

We actually agree! Because for the last 6+ years the Republican Congress passed a great deal of gas and little else......

Oh you're going to love the next 4-8 years!!

 

[Denny Crane]

Oh you're going to love the next 4-8 years!!

8

We get to LOL at the 3rd round of butt hurt if Trump does 1/10th of what he's promised.

The 2nd round will occur after Republicans gain the 60 vote supermajority in the Senate in 2018.

Even more rounds of butt hurt as Trump nominates non-progressives to the bench.

Thanks Trump!

 

[Sedatedfork]

 

[Sedatedfork]

We don't agree on a few things, Climate, Abortion, etc. But that's okay, because the alternative (globalism) was shit, and at least Trump is pro-America/Nationalism (and no, not the MSM narrative of white nationalism).

Who knows what Trump really thinks about those things anyway.