For Immediate Release
March 12, 2008 |
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FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Cullen Schwarz
Office: 202.225.4961
Mobile: 202.225.0471 |
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House Approves Resolution to
Strengthen Ethics Enforcement |
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Rep. Levin Votes to Support Resolution to Create an
Independent Congressional Ethics Office |
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(Washington D.C.)- The House of Representatives today approved a resolution to strengthen congressional ethics enforcement by creating a new Office of Congressional Ethics. The resolution passed by a vote of 229-182. The resolution (H.Res. 895) will bring greater accountability and transparency to the ethics enforcement process by creating an independent office, comprised of individuals who are not Members of Congress, to review alleged Congressional ethics violations.
“In its first year, the New Congress has made many improvements in the way the House conducts its business,” said Rep. Levin. “We’ve adopted rules to increase transparency and accountability to the ethics process. We’ve adopted the most sweeping lobbying reform measure since Watergate to help end the tight-knit relationship between lobbyists and lawmakers. Today we take another step by strengthening congressional ethics enforcement with the first independent body to investigate ethics allegations.”
The Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE) will be led by a panel of six board members appointed jointly by the Speaker of the House and the House Minority Leader. The Speaker will nominate three OCE members subject to concurrence of the Minority Leader, and the Minority Leader will nominate three OCE members subject to concurrence of the Speaker. To avoid conflicts of interest, current House members and lobbyists are ineligible to serve on the board. The panel will have the authority to review allegations of ethics violations and, if the violation are found to have merit, will turn the complaint over the existing House Ethics committee, which will be required to act on the allegations.
Public interest groups, including Cause Common Cause, U.S. PIRG, Michigan PIRG and Democracy 21 strongly support the resolution.}
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To Contact Congressman Levin: -
Email Congressman Levin In Michigan: 27085 Gratiot Ave, Roseville, MI 48066 | (586) 498-7122 | (248) 968-2025
In Washington: 1236 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515 | (202) 225-4961
