Earmarks Forever--The House ignores Nancy Pelosi's board of outside ethics watchdogs.

The Wall Street Journal ^ | March 6, 2010 | Editorial

[jazusamo]

Just as the cherry blossoms arrive each spring around the capital's Tidal Basin, cases of Congressional ethics appear to be blooming everywhere in Washington. Harlem Congressman Charlie Rangel's Ways and Means Chairmanship floated away this week. New York Congressman Eric Mass dropped his House seat via retirement ahead of sexual harassment allegations. But the most striking—and relevant—of all ethics cases is passing without notice. It's worth a close look.

It involves earmarks, which everyone in America knows Congress has promised to clean up. Read the tale below, and discover how Congress assumes that the once-spectacular issue of earmark abuse can be as easily forgotten as two-week old cherry blossoms.

Last spring the House agreed to investigate seven members of the House subcommittee on defense spending, including its chairman the late John Murtha. The matter went over to the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE), an independent body of ethics scrubbers—including former Members Abner Mikva, Bill Frenzel and Porter Goss—that Speaker Nancy Pelosi very publicly created two years ago.

At issue was the charge that defense-industry clients of the lobbying shop of Paul Magliocchetti and Associates (PMA) were funneling campaign contributions to Congressmen in exchange for government contracts. PMA's business collapsed in November 2008 after the FBI raided its Virginia offices under suspicion of illegal campaign contributions. Its founder was a former aide for the defense subcommittee and his mentor was John Murtha. According to the Seattle Times, in "the 2008 defense bill alone, lawmakers gave PMA clients 172 earmarks."

The report issued by the OCE is a story for our times.

For starters, it recommended dismissal of the cases of Murtha, James Moran (D., Va.,), Norman Dicks (D., Wash.), Marcy Kaptur (D., Ohio), and C.W. Young (R., Fla.). This came after the OCE reviewed available documents and interviewed the Members...

[jazusamo]

The Ethics Committee folded like a cheap suit.

[servantboy777]

The next time theres a big ol Tea Party in D.C., the folks need to go on up the stairs of the capital building, through the turnstiles and flood the hallways.

Enough civility. All these traitors do is look out the windows of their office and comment on the paupers in the mall.

I say, let's give’em something to talk about. Not advocating violence, rather pushing passed the checkpoints and peacefully flood the halls of Congress.

Oh hell, what the heck, chant something like, “Your fired, your fired...get out”.

Bet that’ll make the evening news.

[maine-iac7]

The next time theres a big ol Tea Party in D.C

Coming soon - TAX DAY April 15th

http://dc.about.com/b/2010/01/12/tax-day-tea-party-april-15-2010-in-washington-dc.htm

[uglybiker]

...House ignores Nancy Pelosi's board of outside ethics watchdogs.

If they were hired by Nancyboy, I'd ignore 'em, too.

[servantboy777]

I am sooooooo gonna try to make this.

Enough of the bull horn and bull crap.

Fill the steps of the capital building, perhaps further.

[Pontiac]

I say, let's give’em something to talk about. Not advocating violence, rather pushing passed the checkpoints and peacefully flood the halls of Congress.

A good way to get shot.

The Capitol Police do not play games.

The first through may get tackled the next couple will be shot.

[servantboy777]

Awful thought isn't it?

[Pontiac]

Yes it is, but they do not have much choice.

They have no way of knowing who is a crazed nut job out to kill a Senator and who is a peaceful protestor trying to make a point.

[jazusamo]

If they were hired by Nancyboy, I'd ignore 'em, too.

Surprisingly she picked a few honest people and she's probably kicking herself for it.