December, 12 2012, 12:22pm EDT
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Jordan Libowitz,,jlibowitz@citizensforethics.org,.
CREW to Government: Make Ethics a Priority
WASHINGTON
Today, CREW called on both House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) to ensure that the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE) continues its operations in the 113th Congress without interruption by reactivating the agency and quickly appointing new board members.
Read the letter to Speaker Boehner and Minority Leader Pelosi
"Pre-election polls showed Americans view ethical government as a top priority. Sadly, Congress doesn't seem to share this concern. It will require significant public pressure to ensure that the OCE is reauthorized and new, well-qualified OCE board members are appointed," said CREW Executive Director Melanie Sloan. "While both Speaker Boehner and Minority Leader Pelosi have indicated their continued support for the OCE, neither has yet named new board members."
CREW also calls on President Obama to immediately nominate new commissioners to the utterly dysfunctional Federal Election Commission (FEC). The Republican commissioners, led by Commissioner Don McGahn, have consistently refused to properly enforce and interpret the campaign finance laws, which they ideologically oppose. This has served to paralyze the Commission and minimize its enforcement of the laws.
Read the letter to President Obama
"For far too long President Obama has given lip service to campaign finance reform without actually taking real action. It is past time for him to make new FEC commissioners a priority," continued Ms. Sloan. "The President must show leadership on this matter so that we can finally begin the process of restoring integrity to our federal elections."
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting ethics and accountability in government and public life by targeting government officials -- regardless of party affiliation -- who sacrifice the common good to special interests. CREW advances its mission using a combination of research, litigation and media outreach.
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