Napolitano and Fellow Democrats Begin to Challenge the Republican Culture of Corruption with the “Honest Leadership, Open Government” Act

(Washington D.C.)- In a show of unity in the historic Great Hall of the Library of Congress today, Democrats unveiled the “Honest Leadership, Open Government” Act. Congresswoman Grace F. Napolitano (D-Norwalk) joined House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid, fellow Democrats and public interest groups to continue to call for the clean up of Washington and get back to the people’s business.

The culture of Republican corruption and cronyism in Congress rewards the wealthy and special interests while the priorities of our American people take a back seat. Vice-President Cheney’s Chief of Staff Scooter Libby, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, House Majority Leader Tom DeLay and other Republican leaders have been bending the rules for years while America’s seniors struggle with  confusing and poorly implemented prescription drug programs and while middle class and low-income families desperately try to pay higher healthcare costs with lower wages. Under the new medicare plan, many California seniors have lost medical and drug coverage. The Republican-controlled Congress has created laws that provide billions in tax breaks and profits to Big Oil, a like slush fund for the pharmaceutical industry, and has allowed friends like Halliburton to receive no-bid contracts.  Republicans in Congress have made it perfectly clear that their corruption has no limits and no bounds.

“We must restore accountability, honesty and openness at all levels of government. We must create and enforce rules equitably that demand the highest ethics from every public servant,” said Napolitano.

The Honest Leadership and Open Government Act will focus reforms on four key areas:

• Close the Revolving Door between government and K Street lobbying firms by strengthening the ban on lobbying by former members of Congress and senior government officials after they leave to work in the private sector, and require lawmakers to disclose when they are negotiating private-sector jobs to reveal conflicts of interest.
• Fix the Jack Abramoff Gift and Travel Rules to prohibit the receipt of gifts, including gifts of meals, entertainment and travel from lobbyists who buy influence in Congress.
• Shut Down Pay-to-Play Schemes Like the “K Street Project” which Republicans created to tell corporations and lobbying firms whom they should hire in exchange for political access.
• Prohibit Cronyism in Key Appointments by requiring that any individual appointed to a position involving public safety possess proven credentials, and training or expertise in one or more areas relevant to the position.

The GOP-controlled Congress has set aside the real needs of Americans. The Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives returned to Washington early this week for a conference to discuss not only ethics in government, but returning to the needs of ordinary Americans. Congresswoman Napolitano added that she also wants to continue working on the issues that concern people in the 38th District: ending the war in Iraq and bringing U.S. soldiers home, funding to assist small business, jobs and retraining, gang violence in our hometowns and improved access to healthcare for all Americans, especially veterans. 

(####)

Home | Press List