http://www.politico.com/story/2017/01/gop-congress-ethics-office-233123

Breaking News: House GOP reverses course on gutting ethics panel

I would keep the calls coming - make sure they know we're watching!

I received this email this morning from Project on Government Oversight (POGO):

Immediate Action Needed to Save the House Ethics Office

Dear MsGrin:

Last night in a secret vote House Republicans voted 119 to 74 to include a proposal that will gut the independence of the Office of Congressional Ethics. The House office was created after the Jack Abramoff and other public scandals revealed lobbyists giving money, gifts, and trips to congressional leaders in exchange for favors for their clients. The proposed change to Congressional rules would remove its ability to independently investigate and report on allegations of congressional wrongdoing.

This afternoon, the House of Representatives will publicly vote whether to adopt this change. Congress needs to hear from you that you oppose weakening ethics in Congress. Please call your House Member’s DC office this morning and let us know what they tell you. It's important that you email us back at danielle@pogo.org to report what they tell you.

Since its creation the office has exposed and criticized how travel for Members of Congress has become a tool for special interests, foreign governments and foreign businesses to gain access and influence and Members improperly using their influence to gain financial assistance for their family’s companies.

In addition to weakening the office's independence, the proposed Rule change would prevent the committee from receiving anonymous tips, which would expose any congressional staff or members who report wrongdoing to retaliation and retribution.

Americans today are rightly concerned with corruption in their public institutions, and this action - done in private without public debate - further weakens voters' confidence that Congress will do the right thing.
Watchdog offices like the Office of Congressional Ethics need to be strengthened and expanded, not eviscerated.

Sincerely,

Danielle Brian
Executive Director

P.S. Did you know studies show that as few as seven calls from constituents can persuade a member of Congress to change their position? Please call and tell them you care how they vote on this issue. If you’re not sure who your Member of Congress is go to house.gov and put your zip code in to find your Representative.

P.P.S. You can read more about the proposed rule change at CNN and the Wall Street Journal

Tweet from Campaign Legal Center:

The House Ethics Committee breaks its own ethics rules sometimes. This and more reasons we need an independent OCE: https://t.co/RO61wDP9Q6 pic.twitter.com/TXLbFqJOIl

— CampaignLegalCenter (@CampaignLegal) January 3, 2017

Center For Public Integrity:

Draining the swamp step one? Gutting the Congressional ethics watchdog. https://t.co/Pdnb7HOsDN

— Public Integrity (@Publici) January 3, 2017

New email from POGO

Dear MsGrin:

I’m thrilled to report that thanks to calls from people like you Congress just withdrew the proposed rule change that would have gutted the Office of Congressional Ethics! This is a HUGE victory for the public and shows how important and influential citizens like you can be to fixing problems in Washington. Hundreds of you reported back to us that you called your Congressperson. THANK YOU!

Congressional staff told those of you who called, and you told us, that they were inundated by constituents who opposed efforts to decrease accountability for lawmakers accused of wrongdoing. You made it clear that you don’t want Congress to eviscerate our watchdogs. You can read more about the power of the public’s response here.

We hope this will be one of many victories we secure for the public in 2017!
Warmly,

Danielle Brian
Executive Director

Email from Zephyr Teachout on behalf of the Sunlight Foundation:

House Republicans on Monday voted to eviscerate the Office of Congressional Ethics, the independent body created in 2008 to investigate allegations of misconduct by lawmakers after several bribery and corruption scandals sent members to prison.

What's worse, they are trying to keep their votes a secret.

While the House GOP stripped the new rule today once their efforts were exposed, it is still extremely important to find out which members voted to gut the Office of Congressional Ethics in the first place. Knowing who's willing to take this step will be key to stopping them from trying again in the future.

I am working with the Sunlight Foundation, Demand Progress, and dozens of other groups so we can track who voted to gut their own ethics agency. If Republicans are going to try gut the office that checks corruption in Congress, we deserve to know who voted to make it happen.

Please CALL your Member of Congress and ask the staffer that answers: "Did you vote for the Goodlatte Amendment to gut the Office of Government Ethics?" Report what the Congressmember told you and we'll add to the public whipsheet.

Click here to find the phone number of your Member of Congress, and to report what happened when you called.