Press

PRESS

December 22, 2010

CREW Applauds Decision to Keep Office of Congressional Ethics

House Ethics, Ethics, Office of Congressional Ethics, House Members, John Boehner

Today House Republicans unveiled a new rules package that, among other things, leaves intact the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE). Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) applauds the decision of incoming House Speaker John Boehner to maintain this non-partisan office, which provides one of the only viable options for investigating members of the House and making referrals to the House Ethics Committee.

CREW Executive Director Melanie Sloan praised this action as "a major step forward in the quest to build a better Washington. Mr. Boehner deserves credit for ignoring the calls to gut the OCE and instead to stand with CREW and the American people." But Ms. Sloan cautioned, "It is important to remember that rules are only words on paper. They are only as good as their enforcement. CREW looks forward to working with leaders of both parties to hold congressional bad apples accountable for their actions and to make sure the public finally gets the Washington it deserves."