Braley Calls for Independent Ethics Commission in House
Today, Rep. Bruce Braley (D-Waterloo) joined his freshman Democratic colleagues in a press conference to call for the establishment of an independent ethics commission to enforce House ethics rules.
Braley and the freshmen Democrats are cosponsors of HR 1754, the House Ethics Commission Establishment Act of 2007.
The bill would establish an independent commission to enforce ethics rules in the House of Representatives. Membership in the 12-person commission would be bipartisan and comprised of 6 Democrats and 6 Republicans.
"One of the messages voters sent last November was that the time had come to change the way business was being done in Washington," Braley said. "Establishing an independent commission to enforce House ethics rules is the best way to provide tough ethics oversight in the Housebecause the old system of self-policing is not working.
"The American people deserve to have the highest confidence that their Representatives are doing their jobs in a professional and ethical manner. That's why I'm pushing for this new direction in House ethics."
Summary of HR 1754, the House Ethics Commission Establishment Act
· Establishes a 12-member, bipartisan commission to enforce House ethics rules.
· Commission is comprised of 6 Democrats and 6 Republicans
· Democrats appoint Republican commission members; Republicans appoint Democratic Commission members.
· Commission members serve two-year terms; members may not serve more than 6 years.