Mar 3, 2005 -- Ethics Coalition Applauds Proposal to Strengthen Ethics Rules

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 3, 2005
Press Contact: Mark Glaze , 202-271-0982

Congressional Ethics Coalition
Campaign Legal Center *
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington *
Common Cause * Democracy 21 * Judicial Watch *
Public Campaign * Public Citizen

We applaud Rep. Alan Mollohan's measure to roll back some of the House Republican leadership's recent rules changes, which have fundamentally undermined the ethics enforcement process in the House.

Rep. Mollohan's resolution would rightly reverse a new rule under which ethics complaints are automatically dismissed if the Ethics Committee does not take any action on them within 45 days. The Mollohan measure would also preserve the right of the Ethics Committee to resolve ethics matters by formal letter, rather than effectively having to choose between outright dismissal and a formal investigation. Finally, the resolution would preserve the right of the Committee to require that respondents and witnesses in panel proceedings retain an attorney who is not representing another person in the same case - an important tool to prevent participants in an investigation from coordinating their testimony.

We hope this proposal will be adopted - as an important first step to making other essential changes to provide for a real ethics enforcement process in the House. For example, a new rule requiring majority support from the Ethics Committee before an initial inquiry can even be undertaken has greatly increased the likelihood of gridlock and inaction. The 1997 rule that prevents outside groups from filing complaints also has seriously undermined the House ethics enforcement process. These rules must also be changed if the ethics oversight process is to function properly.

Rep. Mollohan's proposal is a welcome step forward and a signal to the public that at least some members of the House are taking their ethics obligations seriously. We call on other House Members in both parties to step forward and publicly support the rules changes necessary to restore a real and effective ethics enforcement process in the House.

Click here to read Rep. Alan Mollohan's Dear Colleague.