House Republicans used to talk about zero tolerance for ethics troubles, they have now come full circle and are rejecting calls to have members take mandatory ethics training.
“Maybe it’s because they have a member facing a 20 count federal indictment, maybe they just got tired of pretending to care, either way, it’s clear that Speaker Boehner and Republican House leadership have given up any pretense of caring about ethical standards,” said Josh Schwerin of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. “If House Republicans are trying to break their own record for the most unpopular congress in history, ignoring calls for mandatory ethics training is a great way to start.”
BACKGROUND:
House Republican Leadership Ignored Calls to Make Ethics Class Mandatory for Members. “Despite pressure from some members to make them mandatory, House members will still not be required to take courses on how to behave. As we reported in July, two lawmakers from different parties co-sponsored legislation requiring annual ethics lessons. Reps. David N. Cicilline (D-R.I.) and Scott Rigell (R-Va.) argued that House members should be held to the same standards as senators and congressional staff from both chambers, who are required to attend ethics training. But Rules Committee Chairman Pete Sessions (R-Tex.) said the rules package for the next congressional session will not include mandatory ethics sessions, Roll Call reported last week. ‘We look at the Constitution and say 25 years old, elected, and that’s your obligations,’ Sessions said to explain why it was not ‘proper’ to make such training required.” [Washington Post, 12/08/14]
2010: Republican Leaders Pledged “Zero Tolerance” Policy on Ethics. “A Republican majority would take a ‘zero tolerance’ policy toward ethics violations, House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.) pledged Wednesday. Cantor, the second-ranking House Republican, who would likely become majority leader in a GOP-controlled House, acknowledged the ethical problems that plagued his party in the past two election cycles, and said Republicans have ‘learned our lesson.’” [The Hill, 8/11/10]