USAT reports on calls for tougher congressional ethics rules. The recent cases highlight the growing fissure between the independent Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE) and the long-standing House ethics panel controlled by members of Congress. The independent arm, which vets complaints before sending them to the ethics committee for action, was established after the House […]
Category: House
Finding issues with Rep. Rangel’s “admonishment”
Is “admonishment” appropriate under House rules? That’s the topic of this Roll Call report. “The House committee has availed itself notably in the Rangel matter and previously in the [then-Rep. Tom] DeLay [R- Texas] matter of the opportunity to admonish Members, even though strictly speaking the rules don’t give them that authority,” said Rob Walker, […]
Rangel gavel gone?
Politico reports that Rep. Rangel may be on the verge of losing his Chairmanship of the House Ways and Means Committee. Ways and Means Chairman Charlie Rangel was on the verge of losing his gavel Tuesday night as a trickle of Democratic defections turned into a flood. “The dam broke today,” said a senior Democratic […]