http://www.copirg.org/newsroom/money-politics/money--politics-news4 http://www.copirg.org/newsroom/money-politics/money--politics-news4/colorado-behind-in-disclosing-where-tax-dollars-go http://www.copirg.org/newsroom/money-politics/money--politics-news4/colorado-behind-in-disclosing-where-tax-dollars-go Wed, 14 Nov 2007 12:52:57 -0600 http://www.copirg.org/newsroom/money-politics/money--politics-news4/fraud-failure-no-deterrent-to-federal-contract-awards Companies http://www.copirg.org/newsroom/money-politics/money--politics-news4/fraud-failure-no-deterrent-to-federal-contract-awards Wed, 03 Oct 2007 08:56:02 -0500 http://www.copirg.org/newsroom/money-politics/money--politics-news4/house-adopts-independent-ethics-oversight Statement of Gary Kalman Director of U.S. PIRG’s Federal Legislative Office The House of Representatives voted tonight to establish an independent Office of Congressional Ethics. This vote was about going beyond the easy rhetoric of reform and taking a concrete step to correct what has been a dysfunctional ethics process. We now have an opportunity to get past the recent failures of the House to ensure honest representation on behalf of the American people. It represents a meaningful step toward fixing the broken and discredited ethics enforcement process. The problem of ethics enforcement in Congress can not be fixed by simply calling upon the party leaders to ‘expect it to work’ as was suggested during the floor debate. The existing system is fatally flawed. The public has long since lost faith in the integrity of the institution. The creation of the new Office strikes at the status quo and establishes an independent and open process that will lead to greater accountability. Tonight, the House leadership made good on their commitments to the public to aggressively work for changes that will rein in the ethical abuses we have witnessed in the past few years. U.S. PIRG applauds all of those who voted in support of new ethics enforcement. We especially recognize the extraordinary efforts of Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Task Force Chairman and bill sponsor Michael Capuano (D-MA), both who fought tirelessly to ensure meaningful reform. http://www.copirg.org/newsroom/money-politics/money--politics-news4/house-adopts-independent-ethics-oversight Wed, 12 Mar 2008 11:20:20 -0500 http://www.copirg.org/newsroom/money-politics/money--politics-news4/colorado-supreme-court-reverses-injunction-on-voter-approved-amendment-41---statement-by-jenny-flanagan-executive-director-colorado-common-cause Common Cause Calls Ruling Victory for VotersJenny Flanagan, Executive Director of Colorado Common Cause: "Big money fought the law and the law won. Today is the second win for open and honest government in the last two years. First, the voters passed Amendment 41 on Election Day in 2006. Today, the Colorado Supreme Court struck down the frivolous attacks on the voters’ ethics law. In their decision, the Court rejected two years of fear mongering by lobbyists and special interests opposed to fair government. All of the provisions of Amendment 41 as passed by the voters, including the ban on lobbyist gifts, are again the law of the land. We have faith that the Independent Ethics Commission, now free to do its job, will carry out its duties as the people of Colorado wanted. Voters supported the ethics law in overwhelming numbers because they wanted to level the playing field for all Coloradans, not just the wealthy interests who can afford to wine and dine the legislators. Colorado Common Cause is committed to making sure that the ethics law is implemented effectively. We will work with the Independent Ethics Commission and our public officials to ensure that the law works for everyone.”### http://www.copirg.org/newsroom/money-politics/money--politics-news4/colorado-supreme-court-reverses-injunction-on-voter-approved-amendment-41---statement-by-jenny-flanagan-executive-director-colorado-common-cause Mon, 25 Feb 2008 13:27:27 -0600