CNN broke the story about 30 minutes ago that the House GOP is about to vote to significantly weaken the Office of Congressional Ethics. Quoting:
Republican Virginia Rep. Bob Goodlatte’s proposal would place the independent Office of Congressional Ethics — an initial watchdog for House members but without power to punish members — under oversight of those very lawmakers. … (O)utside ethics group point to the ethics panel as the only real entity policing members and argue its independent status and bipartisan board are appropriate way to oversee investigations. House Republicans are voting on the proposal in a closed door meeting on Monday night and if it passes it will be part of new rules package for the 115 Congress that the full House of Representatives will vote on Tuesday afternoon.
This is almost certainly the first step to reviving the K Street Project, started by Tom Delay and Grover Norquist after the 1994 elections, and put to a halt after the GOP lost the House in the 2006 elections.
Brian Fallon (veteran of the Clinton campaign) put it rather well:
Nancy Pelosi, for her part, is also ticked, in no small part because the Office of Congressional Ethics was part of her legacy as Speaker:
Call your Representatives NOW. Call 202-224-3121 and use their menu system to find your representative. Do this even if they’re a Democrat but especially if they’re a Republican. Let them know that:
- You oppose any proposal to weaken the Office of Congressional Ethics
- You oppose any proposal that makes the Office of Congressional Ethics less independent
- You will be watching how they respond to this matter.
Good luck!