How Far To Go With Ethics Laws

By DAVID D. KIRKPATRICK   NEW YORK TIMES
Published: November 19, 2006

WASHINGTON, Nov. 18 — After railing for months against Congressional corruption under Republican rule, Democrats on Capitol Hill are divided on how far their proposed ethics overhaul should go. 
     Democratic leaders in the House and the Senate, mindful that voters in the midterm election cited corruption as a major concern, say they are moving quickly to finalize a package of changes for consideration as soon as the new Congress convenes in January.

    Their initial proposals, laid out earlier this year, would prohibit members from accepting meals, gifts or travel from lobbyists, require lobbyists to disclose all contacts with lawmakers and bar former lawmakers-turned-lobbyists from entering the floor of the chambers or Congressional gymnasiums.

    None of the measures would overhaul campaign financing or create an independent ethics watchdog to enforce the rules. Nor would they significantly restrict earmarks, the pet projects lawmakers can anonymously insert into spending bills, which have figured in several recent corruption scandals and attracted criticism from members in both parties. The proposals would require disclosure of the sponsors of some earmarks, but not all.

    Some Democrats say their election is a mandate for more sweeping changes, and many newly elected candidates — citing scandals involving several Republican lawmakers last year — made Congressional ethics a major issue during the campaign. After winning the House on election night, Representative Nancy Pelosi, the House Democratic leader, promised “the most honest, most open and most ethical Congress in history.”

    Senator Barack Obama, an Illinois Democrat tapped by party leaders last year to spearhead ethics proposals, said he was pushing for changes with more teeth. “The dynamic is different now,” Mr. Obama said Friday. “We control both chambers now, so it is difficult for us to have an excuse for not doing anything.”

    He is pushing to create an independent Congressional ethics commission and advocates broader campaign finances changes as well. “We need to make sure that those of us who are elected are not dependent on a narrow spectrum of individuals to finance our campaigns,” he said.      THE STORY IS HERE

Gonzales blasting Surveillance Critics

    "We believe the president has the authority under the authorization of military force and inherent authority of the constitution to engage in this sort of program, but we want to supplement that authority," (warrantless surveillance)

    "It's absolutely essential that we maintain the tool. It's been very, very important in protecting America, and we look forward to working with Congress to find a way that we can supplement the president's authority, and continue to maintain this as a valuable tool for the American people."

    "We're optimistic because of the importance of this program, the success of the program, the stated commitment of the Democratic leadership to work with us in protection of America, and that we're going to have a good discussion and dialogue about the program."

   Those words come from Attorney General Alberto Gonzales speaking to cadets from the Air Force Academy's political science and law classes.

    The third paragraph is the one I wish to focus on.

     Here is how this will go. Bush and this Gonzales character will push the passage of this bill with a few other things added into it. the Democrats will see these items that are placed at the last minute and then they will not let the bill go through. THEN, you will have Bushco, Inc. running off at the mouth about the Democrats being soft on terror, once again.

   You can bet the bank that the Bush Crime Family is going to try to steal  as much of the loot out of the treasury that they can get away with.

   Passing this bill is one of the ways that Bushco and Friends can get more of that loot.