house Bill H.R. 5495
Should White House & Presidential Employees Have to Report Their Recusals to Ethics Watchdogs?
Argument in favor
Administration officials and government employees should not use their positions to enrich themselves. This bill ensures that these individuals not only hold themselves to this standard, but also inform the OGE & Congress when their work leads to conflicts of interest.
09/21/2018
I think all government employees should. It’s just a good transparency action to self-report COI’s. It is the responsible thing to do.
···
09/21/2018
This bill should not be limited just to the White House and the Executive Branch but needs to be expanded to every Senator, Representative, and all members of their staffs. This is what ethics is about. If you cannot live with a basic standard of ethics such as this you do not belong in public service in any capacity.
09/21/2018
The country can no longer rely upon the ‘good faith’ efforts of elected and appointed officials to remain free of conflicts of interests between their private holdings and investments vs. public office responsibilities.
Argument opposed
Government officials are already held to strict ethics requirements. Requiring that they disclose every potential conflict of interest and recusal to multiple parties, even when the official recuses themselves, is excessive and could deter qualified candidates.
···
09/21/2018
Seperation of powers. Will Congress notify the White House when they have a conflict of interest? If they did they probably would not retire with multi millions. No No
09/21/2018
CONGRESSIONAL RECUSAL REPORTING - ALL or NONE
Why wouldn’t all members of Congress be required, INCLUDING officers and employees of the Executive Office of the President or the White House, be required to notify the Office of Government Ethics (OGE) and Congress in each instance the individual is recused from a particular matter, such as a decision or meeting, due to a conflict of interest.
This legislation seems to be nothing more then another Progressive Liberal Democrat attempt to attack the current administration. I’m sure that such a legislative action wouldn’t be directed towards a Democratic administration. Any Doubt???? NOPE.
9*21*18 .......... SneakyPete........
09/21/2018
Again to much socialist democrat overreach thank God it is still a free country. It will not be for long if the corrupt democrats get back in power. God forbid.
I think all government employees should. It’s just a good transparency action to self-report COI’s. It is the responsible thing to do.
Seperation of powers. Will Congress notify the White House when they have a conflict of interest? If they did they probably would not retire with multi millions. No No
This bill should not be limited just to the White House and the Executive Branch but needs to be expanded to every Senator, Representative, and all members of their staffs. This is what ethics is about. If you cannot live with a basic standard of ethics such as this you do not belong in public service in any capacity.
The country can no longer rely upon the ‘good faith’ efforts of elected and appointed officials to remain free of conflicts of interests between their private holdings and investments vs. public office responsibilities.
Ethics Watchdogs at the Whitehouse? Pretty sure they have all been chained up in the back yard.
In light of this president and what we have all been seeing for the last two years, WH staff should be monitored and reported. It appears the current laws and rules are ignored by the president so additional rules/laws must have teeth.
They should be formally accountable and it should be a matter of public record, open to public inquiry, with no executive privilege permitted.
CONGRESSIONAL RECUSAL REPORTING - ALL or NONE
Why wouldn’t all members of Congress be required, INCLUDING officers and employees of the Executive Office of the President or the White House, be required to notify the Office of Government Ethics (OGE) and Congress in each instance the individual is recused from a particular matter, such as a decision or meeting, due to a conflict of interest.
This legislation seems to be nothing more then another Progressive Liberal Democrat attempt to attack the current administration. I’m sure that such a legislative action wouldn’t be directed towards a Democratic administration. Any Doubt???? NOPE.
9*21*18 .......... SneakyPete........
This legislation should apply to every politician in Washington, not just White House officials. Corruption is rampant in DC and it needs to be stamped out immediately!
In Arkansas, appointees, by the Governor, on the State Level have to submit disclosures to the Secretary of the State. In addition, any State level employee has to disclose and have permission to have a second job outside of state government, just to ensure that there are no conflicts of interest for such recusals. This should already be a policy on he a federal level. However, those who cheat always seem to win at any level.
We cannot depend on people to recuse themselves for conflict of interest. Therefore, this will be helpful in ensuring the highest ethical standards are met.
Looks like a bill to protect us from “the best people” Trump saddled is with. To bad it won’t apply to Trump himself.
It seems like this government has less accountability than a spoiled kid. If you’re recusing yourself, there must be a conflict of some interest! We the payers of their salaries have a right to know why they can’t or won’t do their jobs.
How about one better - people with ethical conflicts shouldn’t allowed to be president
All recusals require reporting. I want complete transparency.
Hope this Bill applies to presidents too. Now all we need is Republican support.
Since they can’t seem to be ethical on their own, I guess we need a watch dog.