Friday, December 15, 2006

Ethics Changes Coming to the House of Representatives?

Future Speak of the House, Democratic Rep. Nancy Pelosi, is working on bring ethics and oversight to the House of Representatives. Oh my gosh! Why didn't the Republicans think of that?
(San Francisco Chronicle)

...A package of ethics and lobbying changes will be among the first items the House votes on after Pelosi is elected speaker on Jan 4.

The package includes banning just about all gifts from lobbyists, requiring former members of the House and senior staffers to wait longer after leaving office to take lobbying jobs, requiring lobbyists to disclose more of their contacts with lawmakers and requiring lawmakers to disclose when they are negotiating for outside jobs while still in office.

Pelosi has also pledged to restore regular order in the House, meaning that all bills would only come to the floor after "a full hearing and open subcommittees and committee markups,'' or votes....

Rep. Pelosi is trying to make significant changes about the way things work and she needs our complete support.