House GOP Holds Emergency Huddle To Talk Over Ethics Rules Change

Rep. Paul Ryan, R- Wis., speaks at a news conference following a House Republican meeting, Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2015, on Capitol Hill in Washington. Ryan told GOP lawmakers that he will run for speaker, but only if they... Rep. Paul Ryan, R- Wis., speaks at a news conference following a House Republican meeting, Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2015, on Capitol Hill in Washington. Ryan told GOP lawmakers that he will run for speaker, but only if they embrace him by week's end as their consensus candidate, an ambitious bid to impose unity on a disordered and divided House. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) MORE LESS
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

House Republicans are holding an emergency meeting Tuesday to discuss a changes they made Monday to gut the Office of Congressional Ethics, according to a Republican congressional aide.

The change – which was included in a comprehensive rules package– would change the way the OCE is governed and would largely nullify the independent body’s power and put it under the control of the congressionally run House Ethics Committee.

The change was highly controversial, with 74 Republicans actually voting against it.

The rules change faced incredible backlash Monday night and early Tuesday with Republican President-elect Donald Trump even tweeting Tuesday that he thought Republicans had better things to do.

During a session with reporters Tuesday morning, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) wouldn’t say whether the rules package was in jeopardy because of the OCE overhaul. He referred questions about it to the House whip, but, the emergency meeting may indicated the package is in jeopardy.

Tuesday is officially the first day of the new Congress with new members actually being sworn in. The House was supposed to vote on the entire rules package later Tuesday afternoon.

Latest DC

Notable Replies

  1. The GOP move actually makes some sense. Maybe.

    After all, the most ethically challenged, morally and financially bankrupt, and probably the most dangerous man on this flat earth to ever hold the office of President will be taking office in 3 weeks. It is more than fitting that the GOP house get down in the pig sty along with their leader.

    Perhaps it was just jealousy. When Trumplethinskin spokes-liars keep saying that as president he cannot ever have a conflict of interest, could it be that the House GOP became jealous and decided to improve their earning potential while they hold office?

    Every time I become despondent over how bad the new house, senate, and president will be, they somehow find a way to make things worse.

  2. I’m trying to contact my rep, Jodey Arrington (Texas 19th) to see how he voted. Keep getting an answering machine.

  3. Surely, they didn’t think anyone would notice, did they?

  4. Avatar for kwd101 kwd101 says:

    Because Republicans can only investigate - they can never be investigated.

  5. I guess now we’ll find out if sunshine really is antiseptic…

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

24 more replies

Participants

Avatar for system1 Avatar for frasca Avatar for ichthus Avatar for thehatter Avatar for mattinpa Avatar for clunkertruck Avatar for inversion Avatar for phillydave Avatar for ralph_vonholst Avatar for theghostofeustacetilley Avatar for pastor_agnostic Avatar for jcblues Avatar for fiftygigs Avatar for chezzer14 Avatar for southerndem Avatar for maricaibo Avatar for kwd101 Avatar for bkelly13 Avatar for walterwiggum Avatar for bwridge Avatar for centralasiaexpat Avatar for coprophagoussmile Avatar for lowflite Avatar for aiddon

Continue Discussion
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Deputy Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: