The future of the House of Representatives’ independent ethics watchdog is subject to speculation now that we’re again in appropriations season.... View Article
Continue readingThe Senate’s Dodd Problem
MPAA head lobbyist Chris Dodd threatened Congress and the President last week, suggesting that lawmakers should remember that they’ve been... View Article
Continue readingOCE Survives Vote to Slash Funding, But 100+ Reps Support Cuts
Moments ago, the House of Representatives defeated an amendment by Rep. Mel Watt (D-N.C.) to slash 40% of the funding... View Article
Continue readingOCE in Limbo: House Legislative Appropriations Update #1
Less than an hour ago, the House of Representatives turned back an attempt by Rep. Mel Watt (D-NC) to slash... View Article
Continue readingWhat to do about House Legislative Branch Appropriations
Later today the House of Representatives will consider the Legislative Branch Appropriations Bill for 2012, which if enacted would provide... View Article
Continue readingStrengthen the House Ethics Process
The House Ethics Committee has retained outside counsel to assist it with its inquiry into Representative Maxine Waters, according to... View Article
Continue readingOCE report on financial reform shows nexus between fundraising and legislating
On Nov. 24, 2009, Sara Conrad, the fundraising consultant for Rep. Joseph Crowley, D-N.Y., sent an email to Michael Stein, head of government relations for financial services giant Morgan Stanley, inviting him to attend a Dec. 10 fundraising reception for Crowley’s campaign. The email was a follow-up to a prior conversation he had with Crowley’s chief of staff, Kate Winkler, about the Ways and Means Committee member's upcoming campaign events.
Around the same time, Conrad, who worked for Crowley's campaign and not his congressional office, sent several other emails, including similar notes to lobbyists for ...
Continue readingNew Transparency in the New House Rules
Now that we’ve seen the final Rules package that the House will pass later today, we can talk about what’s... View Article
Continue readingOCE Renewed: Republican Leadership Adopts Ethics Watchdog
The Office of Congressional Ethics has a new lease on life now that the House Republican leadership has reportedly included... View Article
Continue readingHouse Rules Transparency Victory
While we’re still waiting to see the draft copy of the House Rules from the incoming majority today, we’re now... View Article
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