Starting off Strong
January 5th, 2007A beginning is a beginning. Not a finish. I’ve been preaching patience about the Democrats and ethics. I am, of course, a Democrat, and I do, of course, believe in ethics reform, amongst other things in the November platform. But I know, as I’ve said, and understand, as I’ve stated, that politics are politics, and I’ll wait for things to actually happen before I celebrate them. Imagine that!
Well, last night, Democrats proved that they, and their leadership, are committed to ethical change: The U.S. House of Representatives, after installing its new Democratic leadership, voted to ban lawmakers from flying on corporate jets and accepting gifts and meals from lobbyists. And today, they reformed earmark legislation, too:
The House, in its second day of Democratic reign, changed budget rules that have allowed deficits to swell with lawmakers‘ pet projects and President Bush ‘s tax cuts. One rule requires that tax cuts have corresponding cuts in government spending or tax increases elsewhere to pay for them. Likewise, any increase in entitlement programs like Medicare would have to have corresponding tax increases, or equal cuts in other government programs, under the pay-as-you-go rule reinstated Friday. It was adopted 280-154. “This is putting the American taxpayer on a collision course with higher taxes,” said Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, top Republican on the Budget Committee. At the same time, House lawmakers passed a Democratic proposal to require lawmakers to disclose publicly the pet projects — referred to as earmarks in legislative terms — they want for their districts or states, such as Alaska‘s bridge to nowhere in the last Congress. Republicans had made a similar move last year, and GOP critics of pet projects applauded Democrats‘ efforts to require greater disclosure.
I must say I’m impressed. I’m looking forward to more.