Thursday’s Roll Call featured a fantastic Op-Ed from Representative Jeff Flake, about ethics, earmarks, campaign contributions, and the Office of Congressional Ethics.

Worth reading in full.

In the interest of full disclosure, I voted against the creation of the OCE in 2007. I felt at the time that the House should be able to establish appropriate standards and police its behavior through the ethics committee. I still believe that we should be able to do so. But this controversy over the OCE has effectively shown that when it comes to removing the cloud that hangs over this body relating to earmarks and campaign contributions, this body is unwilling, through the ethics committee, to take the necessary action to uphold the dignity of the institution.