Tag Archives: Ethics

Don’t You Love the Smell of Corruption

Posted on by

1

D.C. is the Nation’s capital, but it is also the capital of corruption.  Needless to say, I am not surprised that some on the D.C. City Council are being accused of corruption for various money scandals.  Currently, the FBI is investigating city councilman Harry Thomas, Jr. for charges of corruption and tax evasion.

However, the most recent allegation plaguing the city council is one that is more damning.  According to The Washington Examiner, a live feed from a D.C. Council was recently cut during a press conference, as Council Chairman Kwame Brown was being questions about the ethics scandal and the poor approval ratings.  While the press conference was about upcoming legislation, reporters wanted to focus on the ethics scandal.  After all, people are outraged and questions need to be answered.  The excuse was that Brown, nor his Chief of Staff did not know that the feed was turned off.

What does the D.C. Council have to be afraid of?  The live feed was turned off, which results in a lack of transparency.  Transparency is essential in government.  Shouldn’t the Council answer for their actions?  Whatever the case may be, the people don’t deserve to be left out in the cold in terms of what is happening on the D.C. City Council.

 

The Washington Post Endorses Gerry Connolly

Posted on by

3

While this comes as no surprise, The Washington Post endorsed Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) to another term in Congress. After all, The Post editorial board would rather endorse a liberal than look from a fair and balanced perspective. However, this endorsement had a nice flaw though.

And Mr. Connolly has established himself as a fiscal moderate, for instance by opposing higher taxes on the wealthy to finance health-care reform.

Fiscal moderate and Connolly do not go hand-in-hand. Perhaps, The Post forgot to do their research on Connolly’s record (both as Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and as a Member of Congress). While serving as Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, Connolly raised property taxes, increased spending by 56 percent, and left Fairfax County with a $650 million shortfall. Since being elected in 2008 to serve as Congressman, Connolly has voted for $600 billion in tax increases, including the cap and trade energy tax. Connolly also voted for the health care bill, which will continue to raise taxes, along with extending the death tax.

Does being a fiscal moderate include raising taxes on your constituents and increasing government spending? The Post evidently thinks so. Meanwhile, those in the 11th District might have a different outlook.

Cross posted at Bearing Drift

Focus on the Corruption

Posted on by

0

Hey GOP, can I offer some advice to you? I know that you want to focus on policy this election, but there is something else you should focus your campaign strategy on as well. Currently, Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.) is going to trial for various corruption charges.

Now, I know what you are going to say (blame it on my inner psychic), “Hey CCC, why focus on Rangel?” Rangel is part of Congress’ wave of ethic and legislative corruption. Look at what has happened since Speaker of the House, Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and her leadership took over Congress. There have been several sexual harassment suits filed, rules violations, shady Senate appointments, the buying off of primary candidates, and my favorite (go grab a “Tickle Me Massa” doll), the so-called tickle incident.

Things are boding to well for Congress right now. Their approval rating sits at 38%, with votes of little to no competence. Is it any wonder why? While I agree that policy is the chief strategy, the GOP should focus on these ethics violations and continue tying Democrats to them.

Gerry Connolly…One of Charlie's "Virginia" Angels

Posted on by

0

Well, isn’t this comforting? With all of the promises of hope, change, and making Congress a more ethical place to be, the Democrats have Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.) to deal with, as he is under fire for neglecting to tell the IRS that he was receiving rental income from his Caribbean villa. Normally, what would seem like an offense that would land someone with fines or possible jail time, Rangel has only “temporarily stepped aside” as Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee. Of course, the House Ethics Committee found him in violation of these allegations, and there will definitely be a vote to remove him from that position.

Rangel’s problems have now left New York and traveled down to Virginia, as one of our own elected officials received money from his leadership PAC when first running for Congress. Of course, there is no mention on whether Rep. Gerry Connolly has returned the $7,000 contribution he received from Rangel or even if he would vote to remove him from the Ways and Means Committee Chairmanship. Connolly received this contribution on June 25, 2008. Perhaps, we should call Connolly and demand he return the contribution, as he is supposed to be part of the “most ethical Congress,” right?

Keith Fimian released this statement on Connolly’s refusal to give back or donate Rangel’s contributions to his campaign.

“Gerry Connolly should immediately return all funds he accepted from Rangel,” Fimian said. “As bad as it is that he is still holding onto to those tainted funds, it is even worse that Connolly voted to let Rangel off the hook for his ethical violations after having accepted campaign contributions from him in 2008. As the saying goes, money talks…and Gerry Connolly listens.”

“Aside from the campaign cash, Connolly’s vote to give Rangel a pass on his ethics violations should come as no surprise to anyone who remembers Connolly’s tenure on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors,” Fimian said. “When it comes to ethical lapses, I have no doubt that Gerry Connolly can empathize with the situation Representative Rangel finds himself in.”

Photobucket