Jan 5, 2007 -- Speaker Pelosi Makes Commendable Start to Ethics Overhaul: Statement of Meredith McGehee, Campaign Legal Center Policy Director

The overwhelming passage of the changes in the House ethics rules represents a bold first step to overhauling the discredited ethics process in Congress. Speaker Pelosi deserves tremendous credit for shepherding through these changes against both opposition that was louder behind closed doors and the foot-dragging reluctance from numerous Members on both sides of the aisle. If this package had been toothless, blame would have rightly fallen to the Speaker. With this success, she has rightly earned the credit and has provided much needed momentum to begin changing the culture of corruption in Washington. The next steps — passing meaningful lobbying reforms and creating a more independent ethics enforcement entity — are certain to face stiff resistance, yet they are critical to regaining the trust of the American people in their elected representatives in Washington.

Now the ball is in the Senate's court and the question is now whether Majority Leader Reid, who to date has not matched Speaker Pelosi ' s ardor on ethics, will follow suit. He faces similar hurdles and must also combat the common belief among many of his colleagues that corruption and the loss of public faith are a House problem. Next week will speak volumes about the ability of the new Democratic leadership to follow through on the reform promises they made on the campaign trail.

# # #