Anti-Corruption and Public Integrity Act

[yllus]

"Ban individual stock ownership by elected officials, judges, and senior agency and congressional staffers" is a hell of a step. But if the goal is to end corruption, removing the payoff of money is the only way.

The U.S. needs 100 more Elizabeth Warrens in its government.

 

[Zorba]

It needs to ban lobbying and "consulting" by spouses as well. At least one supreme court justice's wife runs a consulting business on how to present cases at the court.

 

[imported_tajmahal]

https://www.warren.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/2018.08.21 Anti-Corruption and Public Integrity Act Bill Text.pdf


Warren’s 289-page bill, called the Anti-Corruption and Public Integrity Act, has six distinct parts. It would ban individual stock ownership by elected officials, judges, and senior agency and congressional staffers; impose a lifetime ban on lobbying by all federally elected officials and judges, as well as cabinet secretaries; and create a new United States Office of Public Integrity to investigate and enforce ethics violations, as well as a U.S. Public Advocate.

This would be a nice start in draining the swamp, no chance of ever passing thougg

I'd like to see it apply to all elected official's staffers also. I'd also like to see all unions banned from representing government workers. Maybe the left and the right can work out a deal? Ohhh yeah, also all relatives including wives and extended families. Cleaning the swamp is a big job.

 

[imported_tajmahal]

As long as we're starting to clean the swamp, any chance on moving our nations capital to Kansas? That would sure be a huge step in getting rid of the stench of the swamp.

 

[darkswordsman17]

Honestly I think the whole thing is a throw away. Just something to get her name in the spotlight for a bit. I don't think anyone, least of all Warren, thinks it will get any traction. It probably fulfills some promise she made to someone.

That kind of mentality (yours) is exactly why we have the political situation we do. I absolutely share blame in that regard, as I used to operate on similar view of government and politics. But that thinking needs to change.

Not even every Democrats will be for this. There are enough on both sides getting rich of these that they wouldn't neuter themselves.

Certainly true, which is why this isn't a partisan issue despite many trying to call it that.

 

[zinfamous]

As long as we're starting to clean the swamp, any chance on moving our nations capital to Kansas? That would sure be a huge step in getting rid of the stench of the swamp.

Kansas is a land-locked shithole full of corn and sister-fuckers.

no chance, Shirley.

 

[imported_tajmahal]

Kansas is a land-locked shithole full of corn and sister-fuckers.

no chance, Shirley.

It would get our nations capital away from the the east coast shitholes.

 

[UberNeuman]

It would get our nations capital away from the the east coast shitholes.

ah, yes - the blue States that support your sorry ass....

 

[zinfamous]

It would get our nations capital away from the the east coast shitholes.

You hate the government, you hate the nation, you hate "capitals," and you hate yourself. Why would any of this concern you?

Be honest.

 

[imported_tajmahal]

You hate the government, you hate the nation, you hate "capitals," and you hate yourself. Why would any of this concern you?

Be honest.

Sorry, no hate in me for the government, this nation or myself. I do have a problem with the swamp that Washington D.C. has become and hope to move the center of our government away from there and let it become a museum and a tourist attraction.

 

[Atreus21]

https://www.warren.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/2018.08.21 Anti-Corruption and Public Integrity Act Bill Text.pdf


Warren’s 289-page bill, called the Anti-Corruption and Public Integrity Act, has six distinct parts. It would ban individual stock ownership by elected officials, judges, and senior agency and congressional staffers; impose a lifetime ban on lobbying by all federally elected officials and judges, as well as cabinet secretaries; and create a new United States Office of Public Integrity to investigate and enforce ethics violations, as well as a U.S. Public Advocate.

This would be a nice start in draining the swamp, no chance of ever passing thougg

Thumbs up if there is no way on this earth you're going to read that link.

Does it permit their purchasing mutual funds?

 

[Moonbeam]

Another magical law to save us from ourselves?

Just because you feel worthless and project that on everybody else doesn't make it true.

 

[KMFJD]

Thumbs up if there is no way on this earth you're going to read that link.

Does it permit their purchasing mutual funds?

I saw this part -

No officer or employee of an Executive agency may own or trade any individual stock, bond, commodity, future, and other form of security, including an 11 interest in a hedge fund, a derivative, option, or other 12 complex investment vehicle if the Director of the Office 13 of Public Integrity (or the designated agency ethics official 14 of the agency that employs the individual) determines that 15 the value of the stock or security may be directly influenced by an action of the Executive agency.

‘‘(B) Subparagraph (A) shall not apply to— 18 ‘‘(i) a widely held investment fund described in 19 section 102(f)(8) of the Ethics in Government Act of 20 1978 (5 App. U.S.C. 102(f)(8)), if such investment 21 meets the requirements described in section 22 105(b)(2) of the Anti-Corruption and Public Integ23 rity Act;

 

[SMOGZINN]

That kind of mentality (yours) is exactly why we have the political situation we do. I absolutely share blame in that regard, as I used to operate on similar view of government and politics. But that thinking needs to change.

Don't get me wrong. I hope it gets traction, and will support it, and any serious attempt, at improving the ethics of politics in the US (or anywhere in the world really). I just think that because of the timing of when she introduced this bill she is not serious about it. If she wanted to have a real chance at this bill getting the type of support it needs to pass she would have waited until after the midterms and introduced it into the lame duck congress. Right now the committees that would need to be focused on this bill needs to focus on getting this years budget passed, so this will be quickly set aside and forgotten.

Sorry, no hate in me for the government, this nation or myself. I do have a problem with the swamp that Washington D.C. has become and hope to move the center of our government away from there and let it become a museum and a tourist attraction.

You understand that 'the swamp' is a metaphor right? D.C. is not even really built on a swamp, it is a tidal plain.
So, moving the capital would not really help because it is the people that make it a 'swamp' and they would just move with it.

 

[Greenman]

I support it. I hope she makes it the centerpiece of her presidential bid.

When the Democrats retake Congress and the White House, I also look forward to their enacting it.

Like that will ever happen.

 

[pauldun170]

I saw this part -

No officer or employee of an Executive agency may own or trade any individual stock, bond, commodity, future, and other form of security, including an 11 interest in a hedge fund, a derivative, option, or other 12 complex investment vehicle if the Director of the Office 13 of Public Integrity (or the designated agency ethics official 14 of the agency that employs the individual) determines that 15 the value of the stock or security may be directly influenced by an action of the Executive agency.

‘‘(B) Subparagraph (A) shall not apply to— 18 ‘‘(i) a widely held investment fund described in 19 section 102(f)(8) of the Ethics in Government Act of 20 1978 (5 App. U.S.C. 102(f)(8)), if such investment 21 meets the requirements described in section 22 105(b)(2) of the Anti-Corruption and Public Integ23 rity Act;

That sounds familiar....
Some folks who work for financial institutions have the similar oversight.

After hearing that Jeff Skillings was currently "unavailable" and that Ivan Boesky was not willing to sign a loyalty oath, Trump's nominees for director of of the office of Public integrity
1. Steven A. Cohen
2. Jame McDermott
3. Ivanka Trump

 

[MooseNSquirrel]

I'd like to see it apply to all elected official's staffers also. I'd also like to see all unions banned from representing government workers. Maybe the left and the right can work out a deal? Ohhh yeah, also all relatives including wives and extended families. Cleaning the swamp is a big job.

Maybe you can lobby on behalf of the lobbyists, or start a union to protect their rights.

 

[Jimzz]

Thumbs up if there is no way on this earth you're going to read that link.

Does it permit their purchasing mutual funds?

Yea you can own general funds.

(5) EXCEPTION.—Nothing in this subsection 24 shall be construed to prevent an employee or officials 20 O:\SIL\SIL18974.xml [file 2 of 7] S.L.C. 1 of a Member of Congress or a Member of Congress from owning— (A) a widely held investment fund described in section 102(f)(8) of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 (5 App. U.S.C. 6 102(f)(8)), if the investment meets the requirements described in section 105(b)(2); (B) shares of Settlement Common Stock issued under section 7(g)(1)(A) of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1606(g)(1)(A)); or (C) shares of Settlement Common Stock, as defined in section 3 of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1602).

 

[glenn1]

Yea you can own general funds.

(5) EXCEPTION.—Nothing in this subsection 24 shall be construed to prevent an employee or officials 20 O:\SIL\SIL18974.xml [file 2 of 7] S.L.C. 1 of a Member of Congress or a Member of Congress from owning— (A) a widely held investment fund described in section 102(f)(8) of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 (5 App. U.S.C. 6 102(f)(8)), if the investment meets the requirements described in section 105(b)(2); (B) shares of Settlement Common Stock issued under section 7(g)(1)(A) of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1606(g)(1)(A)); or (C) shares of Settlement Common Stock, as defined in section 3 of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1602).

General investment funds would be impossible to outlaw. The entire premise of outlawing stock ownership seems to come from someone who has never owned stock before and thinks it's somehow evil. To insist that someone who's a major corporate executive or company founder who is considering a job with the government needs to completely divest of that stock holding (and thus incurring the tax burdens, loss of voting rights, and potentially a huge realized loss on the value of the stock by selling it at that moment), and do so for the "privilege" of taking a huge pay cut to serve as the Deputy Special Assistant to the Undersecretary of Toilet Cleaning, is quite frankly someone who has huge blinders on.

 

[hal2kilo]

Yes, it has been officially introduced as S.3357 115th Congress (2017-2018) and is currently before the Committee on Finance.

Will never exit the committee.

 

[hal2kilo]

It needs to ban lobbying and "consulting" by spouses as well. At least one supreme court justice's wife runs a consulting business on how to present cases at the court.

Sadly, it been twisted that lobbying is in the Constitution. Calls it the right "to petition the Government for a redress of grievances". Unfortunately our founding fathers never dreamed what this would turn into.

 

[glenn1]

Sadly, it been twisted that lobbying is in the Constitution. Calls it the right "to petition the Government for a redress of grievances". Unfortunately our founding fathers never dreamed what this would turn into.

You're definitely right about that, they never dreamed what the government would turn into. Probably a good thing since they would have been heartbroken to know.

 

[Zorba]

Sadly, it been twisted that lobbying is in the Constitution. Calls it the right "to petition the Government for a redress of grievances". Unfortunately our founding fathers never dreamed what this would turn into.

Lobbying itself isn't that evil. It is the campaign contributions. And in the case I was referencing the massive conflict of interest in your spouse making money consulting for someone you are deciding a case for.

 

[Zorba]

You're definitely right about that, they never dreamed what the government would turn into. Probably a good thing since they would have been heartbroken to know.

Yeah, it is a real shame that it isn't still 1789...

 

[Homerboy]

Personally, I can't wait to hear the arguments against it. What's the elected official going to say "Oh I should be allowed to make millions off my position both while in office AND after my term(s) are complete, ride the coattails of the power, wealth and influenced I gained while in office. To hell with you peasants... er... citizens"