Nothing To See Here! Supporters Of Plan To Handcuff Ethics Panel Lay Low

Independent watchdog groups remain up in arms about a new proposal to limit the powers of an ethic panel that oversees and investigates members of Congress. But they'll have to wait a bit longer to hear back from supporters of the plan, who have been largely silent

The watchdogs say that a resolution introduced last week by Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-OH), and cosponsored by 19 members of the Congressional Black Caucus, would leave the Office of Congressional Ethics without any teeth: unable to initiate investigations on their own, and barred from considering most complaints filed by outside groups.

And, they say, there are conflict of interest issues as well. Many of the cosponsors of Fudge's legislation have been OCE targets. And the panel once faulted one of Fudge's top aides, Dawn Kelly Mobley, for facilitating an ethically questionable Carribean junket for CBC members several years ago, when she worked for Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones. Fudge insists she began working on her resolution before she knew Mobley was the target of an investigation.

The stated goals of the plan, according to Fudge's office, are to prevent the ethics panel from investigating frivolous claims, and to protect people under investigation by keeping the inquiries sealed until the House Ethics Committee has determined that wrongdoing has occurred.

But critics say the new rules would be much farther reaching--effectively neutering their ability to file complaints unless they have first hand knowledge of wrongdoing by members of Congress.

On Friday, I contacted the offices of all 19 co-sponsors of the Fudge resolution to ask why they support the proposal, and how they respond to their critics. Few responded and those who did would not comment.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi proposed creating the OCE after Democrats retook Congress, but the panel wasn't launched until last year, and has only recently begun issuing reports based on its investigations. Her office is not commenting on Fudge's plan either.