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House GOP guts ethics panel - Printable Version +- Cincinnati Bengals Message Board / Forums - Home of Jungle Noise (http://thebengalsboard.com) +-- Forum: Off Topic Forums (http://thebengalsboard.com/Forum-Off-Topic-Forums) +--- Forum: Politics & Religion 2.0 (http://thebengalsboard.com/Forum-Politics-Religion-2-0) +---- Forum: P & R Archive (http://thebengalsboard.com/Forum-P-R-Archive) +---- Thread: House GOP guts ethics panel (/Thread-House-GOP-guts-ethics-panel) |
House GOP guts ethics panel - GMDino - 01-02-2017 http://www.cnn.com/2017/01/02/politics/office-of-congressional-ethics-oversight-of-ethics-committee-amendment/ Quote:House Republicans voted Monday night in favor of a proposal that would weaken Congress' outside ethics watchdog and remove its independence. There was a story on NPR a few months back about a similar panel that oversees judges in a state (can't remember which one, somewhere in the south) that had oversight for decades but came under attack because judges didn't like being told they were wrong or overstepped their reach. Amazing. RE: House GOP guts ethics panel - Belsnickel - 01-02-2017 Why am I not surprised this was Goodlatte? A man whose wife is a major shareholder in a company trying to build a pipeline in our state that Goodlatte has been trying to help make happen would have nothing to gain from this move. RE: House GOP guts ethics panel - GreenDragon - 01-02-2017 Oversight is needed in every government position. Especially Congress. This is detrimental to the republic. RE: House GOP guts ethics panel - Bengalzona - 01-03-2017 The House voted for this. We'll see if the Senate lets them get away with it. I guess they "don't need no stinkin' ethics!"... or perhaps they confused the word 'ethics' with 'ethnics'. RE: House GOP guts ethics panel - Vas Deferens - 01-03-2017 Looking forward to toothless hicks defending this by waving an American flag on a 3ft torque wrench. I'm sure this is in the best interest of the dentally challenged. RE: House GOP guts ethics panel - Rotobeast - 01-03-2017 (01-03-2017, 01:39 AM)Vas Deferens Wrote: Looking forward to toothless hicks defending this by waving an American flag on a 3ft torque wrench. You could start an army, in my neck of the woods, by walking down main street carrying one of those. RE: House GOP guts ethics panel - BmorePat87 - 01-03-2017 Quote:Members of both parties complain that panel often takes up matters based on partisan accusations from outside groups with political motivations, and once they launch a probe members have to mount expensive defense campaigns. This is certainly a concern. It shouldn't be a vehicle for partisan attacks. However... Quote:But outside ethics group point to the ethics panel as the only real entity policing members and argue its independent status and bipartisan board are an appropriate way to oversee investigations. I'd be interested in knowing the "numerous" examples of members being forced to spend tons of money to defend themselves. RE: House GOP guts ethics panel - Belsnickel - 01-03-2017 (01-03-2017, 08:25 AM)BmorePat87 Wrote: This is certainly a concern. It shouldn't be a vehicle for partisan attacks. However... I would, as well. If thatbis the case reform is certainly a good approach, but not this move. RE: House GOP guts ethics panel - michaelsean - 01-03-2017 So you all are condemning the move when you have little to no idea if the committee is effective or even fair? RE: House GOP guts ethics panel - GMDino - 01-03-2017 (01-03-2017, 10:58 AM)michaelsean Wrote: So you all are condemning the move when you have little to no idea if the committee is effective or even fair? I am looking at it as anything that weakens oversight is bad. At least the optics are when one is claiming to want to "drain the swamp". I haven't checked yet today to see if PE Trump tweeted his approval or disapproval yet. He may have been too busy watching the new Celebrity Apprentice. ![]() RE: House GOP guts ethics panel - michaelsean - 01-03-2017 (01-03-2017, 11:20 AM)GMDino Wrote: I am looking at it as anything that weakens oversight is bad. At least the optics are when one is claiming to want to "drain the swamp". But if it's bad oversight as some of the unhighlighted parts suggest, then it's worthless. RE: House GOP guts ethics panel - Bengalzona - 01-03-2017 (01-03-2017, 10:58 AM)michaelsean Wrote: So you all are condemning the move when you have little to no idea if the committee is effective or even fair? With respect, I'm not sure that the "proven results" test is good at measuring government offices or agencies. For example, would we want to cut the FAA just because we haven't had an airline crash in the past few years? Sometimes, just the existence of the office or agency prevents the recurrence of the bad thing that created the situation for the formation of the office or agency. Similar to the way cops parking empty cop cars along the side of a road slows traffic down without the need for a lot of tickets. The point of this office, as opposed to the House Ethics Committee, was that this office is to be non-partisan. The Ethics Committee is dominated by the party in power in the House. The purpose of the office is to keep the party in power from "sweeping under the rug" ethics violations because of partisanship. At the time it was created, the House was led by Democrats and this office actually empowered the Republican minority to have an equal say on ethics issues. RE: House GOP guts ethics panel - Bengalzona - 01-03-2017 (01-03-2017, 08:25 AM)BmorePat87 Wrote: This is certainly a concern. It shouldn't be a vehicle for partisan attacks. However... My concern is over the broader landscape. Who monitors Washington? The Press and themselves. The Press has been under constant attack. Non-partisan efforts to monitor Congress are now under attack. Why does Congress not want anyone looking over their shoulders? RE: House GOP guts ethics panel - Au165 - 01-03-2017 (01-03-2017, 11:20 AM)GMDino Wrote: I haven't checked yet today to see if PE Trump tweeted his approval or disapproval yet. He may have been too busy watching the new Celebrity Apprentice. Trump has opposed it, but hard to tell if it is the idea or timing he opposes. RE: House GOP guts ethics panel - michaelsean - 01-03-2017 (01-03-2017, 11:51 AM)Bengalzona Wrote: With respect, I'm not sure that the "proven results" test is good at measuring government offices or agencies. For example, would we want to cut the FAA just because we haven't had an airline crash in the past few years? Sometimes, just the existence of the office or agency prevents the recurrence of the bad thing that created the situation for the formation of the office or agency. Similar to the way cops parking empty cop cars along the side of a road slows traffic down without the need for a lot of tickets. You start out saying "with respect", and then at no time do you address me as "Lord". I have no idea if it's good or not, bt there seem to be some complaints from both sides of the aisle that it is not non-partisan. I will add that I am not in favor of an outside group being able to levy any sort of punishment on Congressional members. RE: House GOP guts ethics panel - GMDino - 01-03-2017 (01-03-2017, 12:43 PM)Au165 Wrote: Trump has opposed it, but hard to tell if it is the idea or timing he opposes. Just heard that on NPR. And I agree with you. He didn't come out against the idea...just that it was the 1st thing they did. <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8">
RE: House GOP guts ethics panel - Bengalzona - 01-03-2017 (01-03-2017, 12:50 PM)michaelsean Wrote: You start out saying "with respect", and then at no time do you address me as "Lord". I have no idea if it's good or not, bt there seem to be some complaints from both sides of the aisle that it is not non-partisan. I will add that I am not in favor of an outside group being able to levy any sort of punishment on Congressional members. Little Lord Fauntleroy, The Office isn't an outside group. It is made up of Congressmen. Sincrerely, BZ RE: House GOP guts ethics panel - michaelsean - 01-03-2017 (01-03-2017, 01:04 PM)Bengalzona Wrote: Little Lord Fauntleroy, Alright you just made the list. Ask Dino how much fun that is. How is it an outside ethics committee if it's made up of congressional members? Does that just mean it's not under control of Congress itself? RE: House GOP guts ethics panel - GMDino - 01-03-2017 (01-03-2017, 01:18 PM)michaelsean Wrote: Alright you just made the list. Ask Dino how much fun that is. I'm on a list? Cool! ![]() RE: House GOP guts ethics panel - michaelsean - 01-03-2017 (01-03-2017, 01:27 PM)GMDino Wrote: I'm on a list? Cool! You're on the top, mister. |