Will Roskam Vote to Clean-up Congress?

During the Bush years, the House has been plagued by corruption, most spectacularly in Roskam’s party. Members of both parties have been indicted yet the House Ethics Committee has been largely silent and ineffective. Congress has not show the willingness to police itself. Under the current rules, only a current member of Congress can introduce an ethics complaint against another member. Members have shown a reluctance to do so, fearing politically-motivated retaliatory attacks. Something has to change.

Now, a resolution is pending in the House to change the way ethical issues are handled. The resolution, HR 895, would create an independent Office of Congressional Ethics within the House of Representatives. The office would be governed by a board consisting of six members, three appointed by the Speaker of the House and three by the minority leader. Current or recent lobbyists or members of Congress and current federal employees would be excluded from membership. The Office would have the power to initiate and investigate ethics complaints and would be required to report on its findings within set time-frames.

A vote was initially scheduled on the measure last week but was postponed while Republicans pushed for modifications to the measure. The resolution may now be brought up for a vote sometime this week.

Republicans in the House are unlikely to vote for a strong ethics measure such as this unless they know voters will hold them accountable. Residents of the 6th Congressional District should contact Peter Roskam and insist that he go on the record in favor of independent oversight and that he vote for HR 895 if it comes to the floor. Jill Morgenthaler and voters should both take Roskam to task this fall if he does not. Likewise, voters should thank and congratulate him if he does support this measure.

You may reach Peter Roskam’s office in Bloomingdale at (630) 893-9670 or in Washington at (202) 225-4561. Please tell him I said hello.