International Herald Tribune Editorial - Beyond posturing on ethics

International Herald Tribune Editorial - Beyond posturing on ethics
Copyright by The International Herald Tribune
Published: July 9, 2007


Congress returns this week, with its approval ratings plummeting. Time is short for House Democrats to deliver on their campaign promise to turn around the "culture of corruption" in the Capitol.

Progress was made in the January crackdown on gifts, free travel and free meals from influence brokers. But now comes the hard part - facing up to the need for a new congressional integrity office to help the moribund Ethics Committee enforce anti-corruption rules.

But a task force charged with recommending how this could work is running into resistance from members after reports that it would call for allowing outsiders to file ethics complaints - raising fears of campaign-season smears.

While the issue is reported comatose, if not dead, Speaker Nancy Pelosi has indicated that she will pursue the subject. And the ingredients for a workable integrity office are hardly beyond reach.

What must not be jettisoned is the core requirement that the office have credible power to conduct thorough preliminary inquiries to do its job of making recommendations for further action by the Ethics Committee.

There is no need to let outsiders file complaints if the integrity panel has enough power and discretion to initiate investigations.

There is growing concern that the task force will now bow to members' resistance and merely propose a passive body designed to focus on dismissing frivolous charges, with no positive power to seek further action and accounting by the Ethics Committee. That would be a formula for reaping even deeper voter disapproval.

Congress needs an effective integrity office in the worst way.