| With the first month of the 110th Congress coming to a close, I am proud to have joined with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle in our continued work to enact policies that the American people expect and deserve. The new Congress has already brought about sweeping changes in ethics reform and last week I was proud to support as an original cosponsor, a bill requiring those Members convicted of a felony to forfeit their pension rights.
The recent scandals involving certain Members of Congress were a black cloud over our government, and by passing this legislation, we have sent a message that unethical and illegal behavior in government will not be tolerated. By ensuring that the American taxpayers are not responsible for picking up the tab for pensions of Members convicted of corruption while serving the American people, I hope to restore the public’s trust in Congress.
This legislation, along with a comprehensive ethics reform package which included increased transparency in the earmark process, will work to ensure we have a government which is truly for the people. The new earmark reform package will aim to stop Congress from authorizing frivolous spending such as multi-billion dollars bridges in Alaska that lead to nowhere. I remain committed to cleaning up the mess in Washington and this is another step towards putting America’s hard working families in the driver’s seat as the top priority in this nation.
I have made several promises to the people of Arkansas’s Fourth Congressional District and I will continue to honor those promises through my hard work in Washington. I believe these reforms will be a solid foundation in my overall goal to weed out corruption from our nation’s capitol. This is a government of the people, and I am proud to have worked to help pass this important legislation on your behalf. |
