DEMOCRATS’ PROMISES: MOST OPEN, HONEST & ETHICAL CONGRESS IN HISTORY

DEMOCRATIC PROMISE #76: We’ll Be More Honest, Open, and Ethical Than Republicans Were
Promise: “This leadership team will create the most honest, most open, and most ethical Congress in history” – Speaker-Elect Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Press Release, November 16, 2006

Broken Promise: “Pelosi and other Democrats were on shaky ground with their continuing claims that they are running the House with what she termed ‘great openness and transparency.’ …[B]efore Democrats stake their claims for charting a ‘new direction,’ they should deliver on some of their earlier rhetorical boasts.” – “Majority Ruling,” CongressDaily PM, March 30, 2007

Broken Promise: “It’s a familiar backpedaling pattern emerging early in the new Democratic-controlled Congress. From lobbying reforms to anti-corruption proposals to curbing earmarks, Democratic lawmakers who railed against Republican corruption a year ago have flinched from imposing the harshest standards on themselves.” – “Congress’ Reform Promises Fizzle,” The Politico, May 21, 2007

DEMOCRATIC PROMISE #77: Promptly Name Members to the Ethics Pool
Promise: “At the beginning of a Congress, the Speaker or his designee and the Minority Leader or his designee each shall name 10 Members, Delegates, or the Resident Commissioner from his respective party who are not members of the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct to be available to serve on investigative subcommittees of that committee during that Congress.” – Democrats’ House Rules Package, Clause 5 of rule 10

Broken Promise: “Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) has yet to name for this Congress the Democrats’ 10 member ‘ethics pool’ – the group of Members preselected by their respective party leaders to serve on investigative subcommittees as they are needed.” – “No Sign of Life in Jefferson Ethics Probe,” Roll Call, May 24, 2007

DEMOCRATIC PROMISE #78: No Swapping of Earmarks for Votes
Promise: “A Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner may not condition the inclusion of language to provide funding for a congressional earmark, a limited tax benefit, or a limited tariff benefit in any bill or joint resolution (or an accompanying report) or in any conference report on a bill or joint resolution (including an accompanying joining explanatory statement of managers) on any vote cast by another Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner.” – Democrats’ House Rules Package, Clause 16 of Rule 23

Promise: “These strong [ethics] rules are significant steps toward honest leadership; enforcing these rules is critical to ensuring every Member of Congress lives up to the highest ethical standard.” – Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Press Release, January 31, 2007

Broken Promise: “But Murtha went over to the Republican side of the aisle and told Rogers that he would never, ever get another earmark in the Defense Appropriations bill. This was a direct violation of rules Democrats sponsored and promoted.” – “Names in the News Can Be Divided Into Heroes and Villains,” Roll Call Column by Norman Ornstein, May 22, 2007. 218 Democrats voted to excuse Rep. Murtha’s ethics violation and shield him from an official House reprimand. – Roll Call Vote #402, H.Res. 428

DEMOCRATIC PROMISE #79: “Drain the Swamp”
Promise: “In an election in which exit polls identified corruption as the No. 1 voting issue and Washington’s biggest corruption scandal involved lobbying, Democrats won in part by promising to curtail K Street’s excesses. Pelosi has said her first act as Speaker of the House in January will be to pass new rules limiting contact between lobbyists and lawmakers.” – “When the Democrats Take Back K Street,” Time, December 4, 2006

Broken Promise: “Now that they are running things, many Democrats want to keep the big campaign donations and lavish parties that lobbyists put together for them. They’re also having second thoughts about having to wait an extra year before they can become high-paid lobbyists themselves should they retire or be defeated at the polls.” – “Lobbying Reform Losing Steam in House,” Associated Press, May 11, 2007

DEMOCRATIC PROMISE #80: Promote High Ethical Standards
Promise: “Democrats will exercise better leadership in the new Congress and work to raise the standard of ethics in this body.” – Majority Whip-Elect James Clyburn (D-SC), Press Release, December 8, 2006

Broken Promise: Majority Whip Clyburn voted “NO” on H.Res. 452, a resolution to force ethics committee action on Rep. William Jefferson (D-LA) after his indictment on charges that include racketeering, money laundering, and obstruction of justice. – Roll call Vote #430 on H.Res. 452, June 5, 2007

DEMOCRATIC PROMISE #81: Restore Integrity to the House Ethics Committee
Promise: On naming Rep. Michael Doyle (D-PA) to the House Ethics Committee: “With [his] commitment to the highest ethical standard, [Rep. Doyle] will serve with integrity, building on our bipartisan efforts to restore accountability, honesty, and openness to the House of Representatives.” – Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Press Release, February 8, 2007

Broken Promise: A short time after being named by Speaker Pelosi to serve on the House Ethics Committee, Rep. Doyle voted to shield Rep. John Murtha (D-PA) from an official House reprimand after Murtha violated House rules. Other Ethics Committee members voted “present” to ensure their impartiality should the Committee officially investigate the matter. – Roll Call Vote #402 on H.Res. 428. Speaker Pelosi also appointed Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN) to the House “ethics pool” concerning the Ethics Committee’s investigation into alleged crimes by Rep. William Jefferson (D-LA), despite the fact that Rep. Ellison voted against allowing the Ethics Committee’s investigation of Rep. Jefferson to resume. – Roll call Vote #430 on H.Res. 452, June 5, 2007

DEMOCRATIC PROMISE #82: Close the Revolving Door
Promise: “Close the revolving door between the Congress and lobbying firms by doubling (from one year to two) the cooling-off period during which lawmakers, senior Congressional staff, and Executive Branch officials are prohibited from lobbying their former offices.” – Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-CA) “A New Direction For America,” Page 22

Broken Promise: “The House Judiciary Committee yesterday stripped from the lobbying reform bill a proposal to limit the lobbying activity of congressional officials once they enter the private sector and soundly defeated two other top priorities of government watchdog groups. Several of the reforms Democrats voted to kill were part of the 2006 Honest Leadership and Open Government Act that Democrats made a centerpiece of their campaign message last year.” – “Panel Softens Lobbying Bill Provisions,” The Hill, May 17, 2007

DEMOCRATIC PROMISE #83: Sever Links Between Lobbyists & Legislation
Promise: “That’s why we need a new direction here. That’s why we must sever the link between lobbyists and legislation so that we’re here for the people’s interests, not the special interests.” – Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Press Conference, September 29, 2006

Promise: “We are committed to immediate change to lead this country in a new direction, to put an end to business as usual, and to make certain this nation’s leaders serve the people’s interests, not special interests.” – Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-CA) “A New Direction for America,” Page 21

Broken Promise: “[Passage of the card check bill] is clearly a payoff for big labor’s help in the election.” – “Don’t Take Secret Ballots Away From Workers,” Detroit News Editorial, December 26, 2006

Broken Promise: “The minimum wage bill at the top of the Democrats’ agenda was, in the words of Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, simply ‘a matter of doing what’s right, what’s just and what’s fair’ – what’s right, just and fair, that is, as long as employees affected don't work for a company in Pelosi’s congressional district. The minimum wage bill passed by the House last week curiously exempts American Samoa, where thousands of people are employed in a packing plant owned by Del Monte Corp., parent of StarKist Tuna. Del Monte just happens to be headquartered in Pelosi’s San Francisco.” – “Blundered Hours,” Investor’s Business Daily Editorial, January 16, 2007