House Democrats Block Bipartisan White House Ethics Bill House Democrats have reportedly rejected a bipartisan bill that would have strengthened ethics rules for the White House. The bill, sponsored by Representatives Jim Cooper (D-TN) and George Holding (R-NC), had been in the works for several years and had garnered support from both parties. According to sources familiar with the matter, House Democrats pushed back against the bill because it included a provision that would have prohibited family members of the president from serving in high-level government positions. Democrats argued that this provision would unfairly target the families of the incoming Biden administration. Republicans have criticized the Democrats’ decision, arguing that it shows a lack of commitment to ethics and accountability in government. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) called the Democrats’ rejection of the bill “a disgrace.” The bill in question would have expanded financial disclosure requirements for White House staff, created an independent ethics office to review potential conflicts of interest, and barred family members of the president from lobbying the federal government. It had been endorsed by a number of ethics groups and government watchdog organizations. The failure of the bill to pass comes as the incoming Biden administration is facing scrutiny over potential conflicts of interest involving the president-elect’s son, Hunter Biden. Republicans have raised concerns about Hunter Biden’s business dealings in Ukraine while his father was serving as vice president. The White House has denied any wrongdoing and has pledged to cooperate with any investigations. However, the Democrats’ rejection of the ethics bill has raised questions about the administration’s commitment to transparency and accountability.White House Ethics Bill Loses Support from Democratic Co-Sponsors
White House Ethics Bill Loses Support from Democratic Co-Sponsors Despite the highly partisan atmosphere in Washington, D.C., a report has emerged that several Democrats have withdrawn their support for the Presidential Ethics Reform Act, a White House ethics bill. The bill, proposed by House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) and Representative Katie Porter (D-CA), initially received support from Reps. Ro Khanna (D-CA), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), and Kweisi Mfume (D-MD). However, they reportedly reversed their stances after allegedly being contacted by Biden administration officials. The legislation, described as “a landmark bill for federal ethics reform,” requires presidents and vice presidents to disclose conflicts of interest, foreign payments, expensive gifts, and tax returns. Porter expressed disappointment over the withdrawal of support, while Khanna denied being contacted by the White House and claimed he withdrew based on the bill’s content. Mfume stated that he wanted to see a more bipartisan effort. Despite the setbacks, Porter remains a supporter of the bill, arguing that it improves the nation’s democracy. This news raises questions about the motives of the Democratic co-sponsors and the partisan nature of the bill. It also highlights the challenges faced by lawmakers who attempt to promote bipartisan ethics reform in the current political environment.
House Democrats on Wednesday blocked a bipartisan ethics bill from advancing after reportedly receiving a push from the White House. The measure, introduced by Reps. Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.) and Chip Roy (R-Texas), would have created a new independent ethics watchdog agency to investigate allegations of misconduct by members of Congress and the executive branch, including the president. The bill had been expected to pass the House with bipartisan support, but it was suddenly pulled from the floor on Wednesday after Democrats reportedly received a call from the White House expressing opposition to the measure. The White House has not publicly commented on the bill, but sources familiar with the matter said the administration was concerned that the new watchdog agency would be too independent and could potentially be used to target the president or other members of the executive branch. Democrats defended their decision to block the bill, arguing that it was not strong enough and did not go far enough to address the concerns of the American people about corruption in government. “This bill was a step in the right direction, but it did not go far enough,” said Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.). “We need to do more to restore trust in our government and ensure that no one is above the law.” Republicans accused Democrats of putting partisan politics ahead of the interests of the American people. “This is a sad day for ethics in government,” said Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.). “The American people deserve a strong and independent ethics watchdog agency, but Democrats have blocked it because they are afraid of being held accountable for their own actions.” The vote on the ethics bill is the latest example of the partisan divide in Congress, which has made it difficult to pass legislation on a range of issues.
