Backlash was swift after it was revealed Monday night that incoming House Republicans voted to put the Office of Congressional Ethics under the authority of the House Ethics Committee, which has a Republican chair, during a closed-door meeting.
Republicans abruptly changed course Tuesday morning after that public outcry (as well as a tweet from the President-elect chastising the caucus for not having its priorities straight, rather than for weakening the “unfair” OCE), withdrawing the rules change that would have gutted the independent ethics watchdog.
The vote on the rules change, proposed by House Judiciary Chair Bob Goodlatte (R-VA), was private, so Josh asked TPM readers to call up their representative’s office and write in with what they learned about their congressperson’s vote. A few clear categories quickly emerged: the obvious “yes” or “no” vote, as well as those members who were absent. But many readers were also told that staff had no idea how their representative voted, or refused to disclose their representative’s vote, citing the privacy of the closed-door meeting. A few representatives have spoken about the vote, but have not made it clear how they voted.
Thank you so much to the TPM readers who called their representatives and relayed the information below. You can email talk@talkingpointsmemo.com with any new insight into how your representative voted.
The “yes” votes
Rep. Sam Graves (R-MO), from a TPM reader who contacted his office
Rep. Doug Collins (R-GA), from a TPM reader who contacted his office.
Rep. Steve Russell (R-OK), from a TPM reader who contacted his office.
Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT), via The Salt Lake Tribune.
Rep. Mia Love (R-UT), via The Salt Lake Tribune.
Rep. Rob Bishop (R-UT), via The Salt Lake Tribune.
Rep. Steve King (R-IA) via The Gazette.
Rep. Martha Roby (R-AL), from a TPM reader who contacted his office.
Rep. Scott Perry from a TPM reader who contacted his office. Was previously in the “we’ll get back to you” category.
Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA) via The San Diego Union-Tribune.
Rep. Kevin Yoder (R-KS), via the Lawrence Journal-World. Was previously in the “we’ll get back to you” category.
Rep. Bill Flores (R-TX) via Mystatesmen.com
Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE), from a TPM reader who contacted his office.
Rep. Jim Bridenstine (R-OK), from a TPM reader who contacted his office.
Rep. Dave Reichert (R-WA), from a TPM reader who contacted his office. Was previously in the “we’ll get back to you” category.
Jim Jordan (R-OH) via The Columbus Dispatch.
Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) via Raw Story.
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), from a TPM reader who contacted his office.
Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA), from a TPM reader who contacted his office.
Rep. John Shimkus (R-IL) from The News-Gazette.
Rep. Chris Stewart (R-UT), from a TPM reader who contacted his office.
Rep. Steve Pearce (R-NM), from a TPM reader who contacted his office.
Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-MO), from a TPM reader who contacted her office.
Rep. Jason Lewis (R-MN), from a TPM reader who contacted his office.
Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-KY), from a TPM reader who contacted his office. Was previously in the “we’ll get back to you” category.
The “no” votes
Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE), from a TPM reader who contacted his office.
Rep. John Katko (R-NY), from a TPM reader who contacted his office. He was previously in the “we’ll get back to you” category.
Rep. Mike Simpson (R-ID) via The Idaho Statesmen.
Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA), from a TPM reader who contacted his office.
Rep. Adrian Smith (R-NE), from a TPM reader who contacted his office.
Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY), from a TPM reader who contacted her office.
Rep. Lloyd Doggett (R-TX) via Mystatesmen.com
Rep. John Carter (R-TX)via Mystatesmen.com
Rep. Bob Latta (R-OH), from a TPM reader who contacted his office. Was previously in the “we’ll get back to you” category.
Rep. Jodey Arrington (R-TX) via the Lubbock Avalanche Journal.
Rep. Lou Barletta (R-PA), from a TPM reader who contacted his office.
Rep. Paul Cook (R-CA), from a TPM reader who contacted his office.
Rep. Rick Crawford (R-AR). He was previously in the “weasels” category.
Rep. French Hill (R-AR) via Arkansas Online.
Rep. Leonard J. Lance (R-NJ), from a TPM reader who contacted his office. He was previously in the “we’ll get back to you” category.
Rep. Pat Tiberi (R-OH), from a TPM reader who contacted his office
Rep. David Joyce (R-OH), from a TPM reader who contacted his office
Rep. Bruce Poliquin (R-ME), from a TPM reader who contacted his office
Rep. Neal Dunn (R-FL), from a TPM reader who contacted his office
Rep. Pat Meehan (R-PA), from a TPM reader who contacted his office & later statement on Twitter
I voted against changes to Ofc of Cong, Ethics last night and I’m pleased they were removed from the rules pkg that will be approved today
— Patrick Meehan (@RepMeehan) January 3, 2017
Rep. Tom McClintock (R-CA), from a TPM reader who contacted his office
Rep. Randy Hultgren (R-IL), from a TPM reader who contacted his office
Rep. Mike Bost (R-IL), from a TPM reader who contacted his office.
Rep. Martha McSally (R-AZ), via Tuscon Weekly. Was previously in the “we’ll get back to you” category.
Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-CO):
I voted against Cong. Ethics changes. I agree w/ the Speaker & POTUS-elect, there are more important priorities for the American people
— Rep. Doug Lamborn (@RepDLamborn) January 3, 2017
Rep. Steve Womack (R-AR), from a TPM reader who contacted his office
Rep. John Faso (R-NY), from a TPM reader who contacted his office
Rep. Greg Walden (R-OR), from a TPM reader who contacted his office.
Rep. Mark Sanford (R-SC), from a TPM reader who contacted his office
My statement on efforts to weaken the Office of Congressional Ethics…. pic.twitter.com/Mvl2sTtKqk
— Mark Sanford (@RepSanfordSC) January 3, 2017
Rep. Bill Johnson (R-OH), from a TPM reader who contacted his office.
Rep. Ken Buck (R-CO), from a TPM reader who contacted his office
Rep. Darin LaHood (R-IL), from a TPM reader who contacted his office.
Rep. Keith Rothfus (R-PA), from a TPM reader who contacted his office.
Rep. Kenny Marchant (R-TX), from a TPM reader who contacted his office.
Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA), from a TPM reader who contacted his office.
Rep. Ann Wagner (R-MO), from a TPM reader who contacted her office.
Rep. David Young (R-IA), from a TPM reader who contacted his office.
Rep. Barbara Comstock (R-VA), from a TPM reader who contacted her office.
Rep. Mark Gaetz (R-FL), from a TPM reader who contacted his office.
Rep. Walter Jones (R-NC), from a TPM reader who contacted his office.
Glad my colleagues listened to the people & changed course on proposed changes to the Office of Congressional Ethics https://t.co/4PfpyNbEOJ
— Rep. Walter Jones (@RepWalterJones) January 3, 2017
Rep. Bradley Byrne (R-AL).
Changes may be needed to the Office of Congressional Ethics, but the debate should be open and bipartisan. This is the right call. https://t.co/BHjFyHjpYd
— Rep. Bradley Byrne (@RepByrne) January 3, 2017
Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), from a TPM reader who contacted her office.
Rep. Dan Donovan (R-NY) from a TPM reader who contacted his office.
Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) from a TPM reader who contacted his office.
Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY), from a TPM reader who contacted his office. Was previously in the “we’ll get back to you” section.
Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), from a TPM reader who contacted his office.
Rep. Kay Granger (R-TX):
I voted no. #115thCongress #Ethics
— Rep. Kay Granger (@RepKayGranger) January 3, 2017
Rep. Tim Murphy (R-PA):
I voted NO last night but let’s be clear→ #bipartisan agreement #OCE is broken, secretive, lacking #dueprocess & used for political purposes https://t.co/eoLVCIsOgw
— Rep. Tim Murphy (@RepTimMurphy) January 3, 2017
Rep. Charlie Dent (R-PA), from a TPM reader who contacted his office. He was previously in the “weasel” category.
Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA), from a TPM reader who contacted his office. He was previously in the “weasel’ category.
Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC), from a TPM reader who contacted his office.
The weasels (Staff would not disclose these congresspeople’s votes):
Rep. Dave Brat (R-VA)
Q: Did you vote for the anti-OCE amendment last night?
“I’m off the record on that,” says Rep. Dave Brat (R-VA).
— Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) January 3, 2017
Rep. Robert Pittenger (R-NC) from a TPM reader who contacted his office. Staffer said it was a “closed vote and therefore no one knows how he voted,” according to the reader.
Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-MO), from a TPM reader who contacted his office
Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK), from a TPM reader who contacted his office
Rep. Peter Roskam (R-IL), from a TPM reader who contacted his office
Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL), from a TPM reader who contacted his office
Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-WI), from a TPM reader who contacted his office
Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD), from a TPM reader who contacted his office.
Rep. Glenn Thompson (R-PA), from a TPM reader who contacted his office. Reader was told “there was no vote,” then “I haven’t had a chance to ask him that.”
Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE), from a TPM reader who contacted his office
Rep. James Comer (R-KY), from a TPM reader who contacted his office.
Rep. Gary Palmer (R-AL) via AL.com.
Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-AL) via AL.com.
Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL) via AL.com.
Rep. Roger Williams (R-TX), from a TPM reader who contacted his office.
Rep. Alex Mooney (R-WV), from a TPM reader who contacted his office.
Rep. Scott Tipton (R-CO), from a TPM reader who contacted his office. Office told the reader that “since the vote was in secret, the Congressman had not told them how he voted.”
Rep. Mark Meadows (R-NC), from a TPM reader who contacted his office. Was previously in the “we’ll get back to you” category.
Rep. George Holding (R-NC), from a TPM reader who contacted his office. His office said he wouldn’t disclose because of “House rules.”
Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX), from a TPM reader who contacted his office.
Rep. Phil Roe (R-TN), from a TPM reader who contacted his office. Reader called twice: first time his office said “the person who would know is in a meeting.” Second time: “the vote is anonymous.”
Rep. Roger Marshall (R-KS) via The Lawrence Journal-World.
Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-KS) via The Lawrence Journal-World.
Rep. Peter Roskam (R-IL), from a TPM reader who contacted his office. Reader said local office hung up on him and that D.C. office took a message about his concern.
Rep. Steven Palazzo (R-MS), from a TPM reader who contacted his office. Originally said they’d get back to a reader but now has switched to it was a “private vote.”
Tom Price (R-GA), from a TPM reader who contacted his office. Reader was told “the person who would know the answer to that question is not in the office right now” and was unable to leave a message.
Rep. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA), from a TPM reader who contacted his office. Reader was told the issue was “basically moot” since it had be removed. When the reader pressed, he was told the staffers didn’t know how he voted.
“We’ll get back to you” (Staff weren’t sure how these congresspeople voted):
Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL), from a TPM reader who contacted his office.
Rep. Diane Black (R-TN), from a TPM reader who contacted her office
Rep. Steve Stivers (R-OH), from a TPM reader who contacted his office
Rep. Rodney Davis (R-IL), from a TPM reader who contacted his office.
Rep. David Trott (R-MI), from a TPM reader who contacted his office.
Rep. Jeff Denham (R-CA), from a TPM reader who contacted his office.
Rep. Tom Garrett (R-VA), from a TPM reader who contacted his office. Staff told the reader he “hasn’t had time” to tell them how he voted.
Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), from a TPM reader who contacted her office
Rep. John Culberson (R-TX), from a TPM reader who contacted his office
Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), from a TPM reader who contacted her office
Rep. Austin Scott (R-GA), from a TPM reader who contacted his office
Rep. David Schweikert (R-AZ), from a TPM reader who contacted his office
Rep. Ted Poe (R-TX), from a TPM reader who contacted his office
Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-GA), from a TPM reader who contacted his office
Rep. David McKinley (R-WV), from a TPM reader who contacted his office
Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC), from a TPM reader who contacted her office
Rep. Bob Gibbs (R-OH), from a TPM reader who contacted his office
Rep. Tom Graves (R-GA), from a TPM reader who contacted his office
Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-NY), from a TPM reader who contacted his office
Rep. Brad Wenstrup (R-OH), from a TPM reader who contacted his office
Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), from a TPM reader who contacted his office
Rep. Jim Renacci (R-OH), from a TPM reader who contacted his office
Rep. Chris Collins (R-NY), from a TPM reader who contacted his office
Rep. Tom MacArthur (R-NJ), from a TPM reader who contacted his office
Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE), from a TPM reader who contacted his office
Rep. Tom Emmer (R-MN), from a TPM reader who contacted his office.
Rep. Ted Yoho (R-FL), from a TPM reader who contacted his office. Reader was told they had no information on his vote, but promised to get information via email.
Rep. Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN), from a TPM reader who contacted his office. Staff gave two reasons: “they just didn’t know and it was a secret vote and plus, it doesn’t matter now because it has been removed from the package.”
Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-NJ), from a TPM reader who contacted his office.
Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI), from a TPM reader who contacted his office.
Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-CA), from a TPM reader who contacted his office. Said he will be releasing a statement.
Rep. Todd Rokita (R-IN), from a TPM reader who contacted his office.
Rep. Bill Posey (R-FL), from a TPM reader who contacted his office.
Rep. Rob Woodall (R-GA), from a TPM reader who contacted his office.
Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX), from a TPM reader who contacted his office.
Rep. Mark Amodei (R-NV), from a TPM reader who contacted his office.
Rep. Morgan Griffiths (R-VA), from a TPM reader who contacted his office.
Rep. Ryan Costello (R-PA), from a TPM reader who contacted his office.
Rep. Kevin Cramer (R-ND, from a TPM reader who contacted his office. Reader said staffers were unaware what he was talking about.
Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI), from a TPM reader who contacted his office. Staff told reader “I don’t know.”
Rep. John Rutherford (R-FL) from a TPM reader who contacted his office.
Rep. Billy Long (R-MO) from a TPM reader who contacted his office.
Those who were absent:
Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) (flight delays), from a TPM reader who contacted his office
Rep. Rod Blum (R-IA) from a TPM reader who contacted his office.
Rep. Mike Bishop (R-MI), from a TPM reader who contacted his office.
Rep. John Duncan (R-TN) (flight delays), from a TPM reader who contacted his office
Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX), from a TPM reader who contacted his office.
Rep. Mike McCaul (R-TX), from a TPM reader who contacted his office. He was previously in the “weasel” category.
Rep. Mo Brooks (R-AL) via AL.com
Rep. Rob Wittman (R-VA), from a TPM reader who contacted his office. He was previously in the “we’ll get back to you” category. His staffers say he wasn’t in the room when it was voted on.
Rep. Scott DesJarlais (R-TN), from a TPM reader who contacted his office. Staffer said he was “not on the call.”
Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA) told a reporter from the Chinook Observer that she was not present at the vote, but after the fact said she would not have supported it.
Rep. Raul Labrador (R-ID) via The Idaho Statesman
Rep. Steve Knight (R-CA), from a TPM reader who contacted his office. Said his flight was delayed, but if he was there he would have voted “no.”
Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-SC) from a TPM reader who contacted his office.
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) via Spokesman.com. She was chairing the closed-door meeting and so could not vote.
Rep. Tom Reed (R-NY), from a TPM reader who contacted his office. Was previously in the “weasels” category.
Rep. Sean Duffy (R-WI), according to the Journal Sentinel.
Rep. Dave Bratt (R-VA), from a TPM reader who contacted his office.
Rep. Lynn Jenkins (R-KS) via the Lawrence Journal-World (flight delays). She was previously in the “Dodgers” category.
Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA), via Washington’s NPR affiliate KUOW.
The Dodgers
Rep. Susan Brooks (R-IN), from a TPM reader who contacted her office. Staff said they haven’t spoken with her yet. She released a statement earlier in the day praising the proposal, but did not disclose how she voted. She then released another statement praising the removal of the reforms, but did not disclose how she voted.
I will work in a bipartisan manner w/ the Office to ensure its independence & maintain the highest ethical standards of the House. pic.twitter.com/Jh6fqoiOgk
— Susan W. Brooks (@SusanWBrooks) January 3, 2017
My full statement: pic.twitter.com/wxKTvMNEbq
— Susan W. Brooks (@SusanWBrooks) January 3, 2017
Rep. Mike Turner (R-OH), from a TPM reader who contacted his office. Reader said the people in the office were unsure how he voted but the reader then received a statement from his office saying he voted on the final rules package with this proposal removed. The statement was forwarded to TPM and it does not disclose how he voted Monday night.
Rep. Mimi Walters (R-CA), from a TPM reader who contacted her office. Office did not say how she voted but said she was “relieved” when it was taken out of the package.
Rep. Mike Coffman (R-CO):
Statement on Office of Congressional Ethics –> https://t.co/3Edt5AwUPY
— Rep. Mike Coffman (@RepMikeCoffman) January 3, 2017
The statement does not say how Coffman voted on the original proposal and TPM readers said they have been unable to get a straight answer. This has been moved from the “voted no” category.
Rep. Mark Walker (R-NC), a TPM reader who contacted his office was told they didn’t know how he voted. He released a statement to the Greensboro.com that did not reveal how he voted but said dropping the proposal was the “right call.”
Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-MI) released a statement saying he was “not in favor of the proposed changes and was happy to see the proposal completely removed from the final rules package.” The statement did not explicitly say how he voted.
Interesting how much easier it is to assemble the “NO” votes. Sunshine is still the best disinfectant.
I must give credit to my Congressman Thomas Massie Ky. He was one of only three who had the courage to admit what an ASS HOLE he really is.
The correct response to any Representative who says that his vote is “off the record,” is, “So we can assume you voted YES. Otherwise you wouldn’t be getting cagey about it.”
I called Duncan D. Hunter’s office. Staff claims not to know, and besides it’s a secret vote, and it’s “not published.” Initially she tried to tell me that there wasn’t a actual vote count, but backed off that.
I have twice previously contacted Rep Martha McSally’s office (AZ seat once held by Gabrielle Giffords) on Social Security cutbacks and on Medicare voucherization and my experience is that ‘We’ll get back to you’ means that you will NEVER hear a peep from us. That is I why I did not bother to follow-up on the ethics matter. This experience reminded me of E.Y.Harburg in response decades ago to the question of the efficacy of writing to a member of Congress: ‘A member of congress has two ends: a thinking end and a sitting end. And since his career depends upon his seat, why bother, friend!’ This is going to be a Congress of dead-of-night fait accompli. This first effort did not work. More is coming.