House Majority Refuses to Fund Ethics Committee

WASHINGTON, D.C.-United States Congressman Tom Cole (OK-4) made the following statement regarding the majority party's refusal to give the House Ethics Committee the funding it needs to effectively implement the new house rules.

"The majority party ran on a platform to lead the most honest, most open and most ethical Congress in history, and as the very first act of the new Congress, the House overwhelmingly passed an ethics package that calls on members of the Ethics Committee to supervise ethical behavior in the house. Now the majority party is actually refusing to do what they promised by denying the committee the funds they need to carry out their responsibilities."

"Instead, Congress has been able to find millions of dollars to fund a climate change panel that, frankly, has no duties, no responsibilities, and no legislative priorities. I believe in common sense solutions that promote clean air and water, and I recognize the importance and urgency of this; however, the House already has a committee, the Energy and Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over this issue. I am disappointed that the new majority can find $3.7 million for a new climate change panel, but is unable to find $1.2 million to help uphold the integrity of the house."

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