Politics on the Hudson

Congressman John Hall, D-Dover Plains, and other freshman Democrats called today for comprehensive ethics reform with a nonpartisan, independent ethics body to initiate and conduct investigations.

In January, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi created a task force on ethics enforcement to recommend how to proceed with reform. The task force is expected to report to the House in the next few weeks.

Currently, members of the House Ethics Committee initiate complaints and investigate their colleagues, who are often their friends.

“The last Congress set new standards for impropriety and influence peddling,” Hall said. “To repair the damage, this Congress must set new standards for independence and ethical behavior.”