Dems Charge Congress Ethics Wrecked

UPI

Democratic lawmakers Tuesday spoke out against what they characterized as the unprecedented erosion of the democratic process in the U.S. House.

In a report titled “Broken Promises: The Death of Deliberative Democracy,” House Rules Committee Minority Leader Rep.

Louise Slaughter, D-N.Y., outlined how House Republicans became “the most arrogant, unethical and corrupt majority in modern congressional history” during the prior session.

“In the opinion of many non-partisan observers of Congress, the 108th Congress not only matched the worst abuses of earlier Congresses, it set a whole new benchmark,” the report said.

Senate Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi of California joined Slaughter in releasing the report, which she said provided “devastating details of the profound abuse of power that characterizes House Republicans after 10 years in the majority.”

Pelosi and Slaughter said House Republicans restrict floor debate and floor amendments, ram bills through committees without full discussion and extend voting until they get a majority vote on bills they want passed.

“Democracy is threatened in the people’s House,” Pelosi said.

In response to what he called “inflammatory rhetoric,” House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas, said Democrats are continuing their practice of making partisan attacks while offering no positive agenda or solutions.

“This is more of the same from House Democrats,” DeLay said in a statement.