Remove corruption from City Hall

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Join The Philadelphia Citizen for a series of free public events where a panel of questioners with expertise in hiring — along with audience members like you! — will interview 2023 mayoral candidates using a job description created by the people of Philadelphia.

The first event will be held on Tuesday, January 17, 6:30-8:30pm at the Fitler Club Ballroom, 1 S. 24th Street.

This event is free and open to the public, but please RSVP here.

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Republicans — and one Democrat — in the House of Representatives were notoriously corrupt in 2005 and 2006. In 2008, Dems established the independent, nonpartisan Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE) to purse members of Congress accused of ethical violations. Today, Republicans want to disempower the OCE.

Listen

Ali Velshi on the Culture of Corruption in Congress

The MSNBC host asks: Why are Republicans trying to gut the Office of Congressional Ethics?

Listen

Ali Velshi on the Culture of Corruption in Congress

The MSNBC host asks: Why are Republicans trying to gut the Office of Congressional Ethics?

Democrats established the independent Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE) in 2008 after a flood of scandals and resignations by members of Congress — mostly Republicans, but also a Democrat. Republicans are now trying to gut it, perhaps in an effort to make corruption great again. MSNBC Host and Citizen Board Member Ali Velshi takes us through the history of the OCE — and why it’s such a bad idea to weaken it.

After a year full of Congressional scandal and criminal indictments — remember Duke Cunningham? Tom Delay? Tom Foley? Jack Abramoff? — in 2006, the Democrats established the Office of Congressional Ethics. The OCE the nonpartisan, independent entity that reviews allegations of misconduct by members of the House of Representatives. When appropriate, the board will refer investigations to the House Committee on Ethics to further review.

Since its inception, the Office of Congressional Ethics has been under threat by Republicans trying to abolish it in order to avoid independent scrutiny. This year, two years after the January 6 insurrection, in which some House Republicans have been implicated, is no different.

The House Republican rules package includes several clauses that would rein in the OCE and make it more difficult for it to do its job.

LISTEN TO ALI VELSHI ON CONGRESS’ CULTURE OF CORRUPTION

 

WATCH ALI ON MSNBC

 

 

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