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For Immediate Release
February 27, 2008 |
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Shays, Castle Support
Granting Ethics Commission Subpoena Power
Washington, D.C. – Congressmen Christopher Shays (CT-4)
and Mike Castle (DE – At Large) wrote to their colleagues
today requesting support for their amendment to H.Res. 895
to grant the Chairman or Cochairman of the Ethics Commission
subpoena power. H.Res. 895 would create an independent panel
with the power to initiate ethics inquiries.
“The current Ethics review process in the House is
broken,” stated Shays. “Complaints simply are
not reviewed and adjudicated in a timely, impartial way under
the current system. Without subpoena power, in effect, the
Commission will only be able to recommend an investigation
to the Ethics Committee, which could lead to the same gridlock
we have now.”
"Without investigatory power, a Commission will face
challenges at every turn. Congress needs a real commitment
to ethics oversight and this amendment is the best chance
of enacting real change in the current review process,"
said Castle. "Yet, without granting subpoena power, the
Ethics Commission will be unable to secure the testimony needed
to conduct honest and thorough investigations."
The Dear Colleague letter circulated by Shays and Castle
urges the Rules Committee to make their amendment in order,
and urges members to support the adoption of our amendment
when it is considered on the House floor to strengthen H.Res.
895.
Contact: Dave Natonski , 202/225-5541
Contact:
Sarah Moore, 202/225-5541
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