lily
12-20-2007, 04:27 PM
Well, it's that time of the year again. Time to reflect on the past year. This list seems pretty fair, since it crosses both sides of the political aisle, there's a little something for everybody. (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/17/AR2007121701796.html)
If a Scandal Has Legs, It's on the List
Tuesday, December 18, 2007; Page A23
Tough competition for Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington's
inaugural list of the year's top 10 ethics scandals. The government
watchdog's list, posted at http://www.citizensforethics.org, pays special
attention to scandals that appear likely to blow into something bigger next
year, said Melanie Sloan, CREW's executive director.
The list "seemed like a good way at the end of the year to keep track of
what happened and what's on the horizon," Sloan said. "If a scandal seemed
to conclude this year, it's not on the list."
The scandals, with headings taken from the CREW report, are not listed in
order of magnitude. They're all pretty bad, the CREW people say.
1. No new enforcement mechanisms for congressional ethics: A House panel
convened by Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has yet to come up with
recommendations -- originally due in May -- on establishing an independent
ethics oversight panel, amid reports of bipartisan resistance.
2. Ted Stevens still sitting on Senate Appropriations: The senator
(R-Alaska) and his son Ben are embroiled in a federal corruption probe in
their home state.
3. Senate Ethics Committee looking into Sen. Larry Craig, but not Sen. David
Vitter: Craig (R-Idaho) is defending himself against charges that he
solicited sex from an undercover male law enforcement officer in an airport
restroom. Vitter (R-La.) was outed as a client of an alleged prostitution
ring run by Deborah Jeane Palfrey, the "D.C. madam," after his phone number
appeared in her records.
4. Millions of missing White House e-mails still unaccounted for: CREW and
the National Security Archive are seeking information and backup copies of
more than 5 million e-mails deleted from White House computer servers
between 2003 and 2005.
5. Rep. Murtha's abuse of the earmarking process remains unchecked: Rep.
John Murtha (D-Pa.) has drawn scrutiny for channeling millions of federal
dollars, much of it in defense contracts, to his (formerly) hard-luck
district.
6. Lurita Doan remains chief of GSA despite illegal conduct: Lurita Alexis
Doan denies allegations that she gave a contract to a longtime friend and
was involved in illegal Republican politicking inside the General Services
Administration.
7. White House possibly covering up its role in the firings of the U.S.
attorneys: Congressional investigations of the firing of nine U.S. attorneys
have been stymied as the White House keeps key players, including former
White House counsel Harriet Miers and Chief of Staff Josh Bolten, from
testifying.
8. No Child Left Behind funds directed to Bush fundraisers who provide
inadequate reading materials for kids: A Department of Education inspector
general's probe found that Bush-connected companies and donors got contracts
for providing reading materials found to be of questionable value.
9. Court decision regarding search of Jefferson's office limits ability of
Justice Department to investigate corrupt lawmakers: The federal corruption
probe of Rep. William Jefferson (D-La.) experienced a setback this year when
an appellate judge ruled that "legislative material" seized in a search of
his office cannot be used to prosecute members of Congress.
10. FEMA knowingly let Katrina victims live in hazardous trailers: Records
indicate that the Federal Emergency Management Agency had cautioned its
workers about trailers contaminated with formaldehyde. But the agency has
been accused of delaying testing for the substance in trailers occupied by
people left homeless by the hurricane.
If a Scandal Has Legs, It's on the List
Tuesday, December 18, 2007; Page A23
Tough competition for Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington's
inaugural list of the year's top 10 ethics scandals. The government
watchdog's list, posted at http://www.citizensforethics.org, pays special
attention to scandals that appear likely to blow into something bigger next
year, said Melanie Sloan, CREW's executive director.
The list "seemed like a good way at the end of the year to keep track of
what happened and what's on the horizon," Sloan said. "If a scandal seemed
to conclude this year, it's not on the list."
The scandals, with headings taken from the CREW report, are not listed in
order of magnitude. They're all pretty bad, the CREW people say.
1. No new enforcement mechanisms for congressional ethics: A House panel
convened by Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has yet to come up with
recommendations -- originally due in May -- on establishing an independent
ethics oversight panel, amid reports of bipartisan resistance.
2. Ted Stevens still sitting on Senate Appropriations: The senator
(R-Alaska) and his son Ben are embroiled in a federal corruption probe in
their home state.
3. Senate Ethics Committee looking into Sen. Larry Craig, but not Sen. David
Vitter: Craig (R-Idaho) is defending himself against charges that he
solicited sex from an undercover male law enforcement officer in an airport
restroom. Vitter (R-La.) was outed as a client of an alleged prostitution
ring run by Deborah Jeane Palfrey, the "D.C. madam," after his phone number
appeared in her records.
4. Millions of missing White House e-mails still unaccounted for: CREW and
the National Security Archive are seeking information and backup copies of
more than 5 million e-mails deleted from White House computer servers
between 2003 and 2005.
5. Rep. Murtha's abuse of the earmarking process remains unchecked: Rep.
John Murtha (D-Pa.) has drawn scrutiny for channeling millions of federal
dollars, much of it in defense contracts, to his (formerly) hard-luck
district.
6. Lurita Doan remains chief of GSA despite illegal conduct: Lurita Alexis
Doan denies allegations that she gave a contract to a longtime friend and
was involved in illegal Republican politicking inside the General Services
Administration.
7. White House possibly covering up its role in the firings of the U.S.
attorneys: Congressional investigations of the firing of nine U.S. attorneys
have been stymied as the White House keeps key players, including former
White House counsel Harriet Miers and Chief of Staff Josh Bolten, from
testifying.
8. No Child Left Behind funds directed to Bush fundraisers who provide
inadequate reading materials for kids: A Department of Education inspector
general's probe found that Bush-connected companies and donors got contracts
for providing reading materials found to be of questionable value.
9. Court decision regarding search of Jefferson's office limits ability of
Justice Department to investigate corrupt lawmakers: The federal corruption
probe of Rep. William Jefferson (D-La.) experienced a setback this year when
an appellate judge ruled that "legislative material" seized in a search of
his office cannot be used to prosecute members of Congress.
10. FEMA knowingly let Katrina victims live in hazardous trailers: Records
indicate that the Federal Emergency Management Agency had cautioned its
workers about trailers contaminated with formaldehyde. But the agency has
been accused of delaying testing for the substance in trailers occupied by
people left homeless by the hurricane.