Issue Position: Cleaning Up Washington

Issue Position

Issue Position: Cleaning Up Washington

Congressman Hodes is leading the way to clean up Washington

On March 27th 2008, the Union Leader reported:

"In his campaign for Congress, Democrat Paul Hodes ran on a message of wanting to rid Capitol Hill of corrupt politics. More than a year into his first term in the House, Hodes has acted on that message and helped pass a resolution that will create an independent panel to investigate actions of House members."

Congressman Hodes is leading the way to create an outside ethics panel:

Congressman Hodes helped lead the way to create a bipartisan, outside ethics panel to help investigate alleged ethics violations by members of Congress. He also co-authored an amendment with his freshman colleagues to give this new board subpoena power.

This legislation puts ethics violations in the hands of an independent, non-partisan board — and that is the right way to go to give the American people the confidence that any corruption will be investigated fairly and thoroughly.

Congressman Hodes was sent to Congress by the people of New Hampshire to clean up Washington. This legislation goes a long way towards helping restore trust in the People's House.

Congressman Hodes is leading the way on earmark reform:

Congressman Paul Hodes is leading the way on earmark reform by calling on Speaker Nancy Pelosi to impose a one year moratorium on earmarks so that Congress can enact further reforms. While the new Congress has cut earmark spending by 50%, more reform is needed.

Congressman Hodes has worked to bring greater accountability to the process by helping to pass new rules that require lawmakers to disclose who they are getting earmarks for and to prevent conflicts of interest, but Congressman Hodes believes that earmarks need even greater transparency and reform in order to give all Americans confidence in the integrity of the system.

Congressman Hodes believes that we must continue to reduce wasteful spending in all forms, and ensure that taxpayer dollars are spent carefully and wisely. At the same time, he is working hard to make sure that New Hampshire tax dollars are returned to New Hampshire for important needs such as job creation, economic development, and increasing accessibility to health care facilities.

Congressman Hodes is leading the way on lobbyist reform:

On his first day in office, Congressman Paul Hodes helped pass sweeping ethics rule changes that prohibit lobbyists from giving lawmakers gifts and fancy meals.

The measure bans gifts and travel financed by lobbyists, and it prohibits congressional leaders from manipulating congressional votes on new laws by keeping votes open while they twist arms to change the outcome.

On July 31, 2007, Congressman Hodes voted for another ethics overhaul bill that passed the House. The bill forces congressional candidates to report far more information on how lobbyists are contributing to their campaigns. It would also strip members of Congress of their pension benefits if they are convicted of a crime connected to their office.

The new law also continues the current requirement that members of Congress and their senior staff are prohibited from lobbying Congress for one year after leaving office. It requires House members and senior staff to report on any negotiations they have on post-congressional employment to the ethics committee.

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