News · Press Release

Ethical Debacle Haunts Republican Members Back Home

 

Attempt to gut the Office of Congressional Ethics received widespread local coverage

Congressional Republicans’ first day of the new Congress was marred by wall-to-wall coverage of their shady – and ultimately thwarted – attempt to gut the only independent House ethics watchdog. The bizarrely tone-deaf and ethically bankrupt move created shockwaves, hitting front pages in cities and towns across the country.

“If Republicans thought the American people weren’t watching and ready to hold them accountable, they faced a rude awakening yesterday,” said DCCC Spokesman Tyler Law. “Not only was their move to gut the Office of Congressional Ethics morally bankrupt, their embarrassing failure ensured that voters in every corner of the country know who unprepared they are to govern.”  

Here’s a small sampling of the backlash that Republicans who publicly supported gutting the OCE faced back home…

AL-02: HEADLINE: Alabama lawmakers defend their votes after ethics panel backlashAnniston Star

AL-02: HEADLINE: How they voted on ethics: Half Alabama GOP lawmakers won’t say AL.com

AL-02: FRONT PAGE HEADLINE: Backlash forces GOP to reconsider: House Republicans back down on bid to gut ethics committee New York Times (appearing in the Anniston Star)

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(Credit: Newseum Front Pages)

CO-03: HEADLINE: Colorado Rep. Scott Tipton still won’t say how he voted on the ethics office controversy Denverite

FL-26: HEADLINE: Miami Republicans Supported Gutting House Ethics Office Before Changing Their MindsMiami New Times

FL-26/27: HEADLINE: House GOP reverses move — backed by 2 Miami Republicans — to cripple ethics officeMiami Herald

FL-26/27: HEADLINE: Florida Republicans blast and defend attempt to gut ethics officeTampa Bay Times

FL-26/27: HEADLINE: El Nuevo Herald:  El Congreso no debe descuidar la éticaEl Nuevo Herald

IA-01: FRONT PAGE HEADLINE: Trump-era Congress off to a rough start – The Gazette

the-gazette-front-page-on-oce-1-4-17

(Credit: Newseum Front Pages)

IL-06: TV COVERAGE: Rep. Roskam Among Republicans Who Sought To Dissolve Congressional Ethics Office CBS Chicago

1-3-17-chicago-cbs-coverage-of-roskam-gutting-oce-screen-grab-of-evening-news

IL-06: HEADLINE: U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam among those supporting effort to gut independent ethics office Associated Press

IL-06: HEADLINE: What’s Roskam’s role in House ethics meltdown? – Crain’s Chicago Business 

IL-06: Coverage on Roskam’s efforts to gut the Office of Congressional EthicsWLS Radio

KS-03: HEADLINE: Yoder voted ‘yes’ on overhaul of ethics office, although getting that answer wasn’t easy Lawrence Journal-World

KS-03/02: HEADLINE: Jenkins and Yoder favor changes to the Office of Congressional Ethics The Topeka Capital Journal





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