In theory this is a great idea:
In the wake of a string of Congressional misconduct and corruption cases, the House on Tuesday created an independent panel to investigate suspected wrongdoing by lawmakers, despite deep reservations from rank-and-file lawmakers from both parties.
The new Office of Congressional Ethics was promoted by Democratic leaders as a way to restore credibility to an internal policing process that had been seen as largely ineffective in recent years, even as individual lawmakers were indicted, rebuked and jailed for various offenses. The vote to establish the office was 229 to 182.
By creating a panel of six people of “exceptional public standing,” the House, for the first time, delegated the authority for regulating behavior in the House to nonlawmakers. Current members of the House, federal employees and anyone who has been a registered lobbyist in the past year would be ineligible.
Democrats said they had made changes to reduce the potential for inquiries inspired by partisan motives, including requiring that an investigation can only be instigated when one panel member appointed by the speaker and another by the minority leader agree. All six members must also be appointed jointly by the speaker of the House and the leader of the minority party. Representative John A. Boehner of Ohio, the Republican leader and an opponent of the plan, said Tuesday that he was unsure how he and Speaker Nancy Pelosi would find agreement on the panel membership.
Will we see it used for partisan purposes tho? Apparently a investigation can be started when only two members agree that something needs to be looked at. They’ve tried to ensure no partisanship by ruling that a member from each side, the majority and the minority, have to agree to start up an investigation but I can see new office being a tool come election time. A tool to get one side or another elected.
But its better then nothing and a good start.
See author page