POLITICAL ETHICS

Addresses

Joint Congressional Address on Job Creation: President Obama, S5451-S5454 [8SE], H6006-H6008 [8SE]

State of the Union: President Obama, S112-S117 [25JA], H457-H462 [25JA]

Amendments

Political campaigns: terminate taxpayer financing of Presidential election campaigns and party conventions and terminate the Election Assistance Commission (H.R. 3463), consideration (H. Res. 477), H7957 [30NO]

Appointments

Committee on Ethics (House): investigative subcommittees, H1991 [29MR], H2119 [31MR]

Office of Congressional Ethics Governing Board, H323 [19JA]

Articles and editorials

ACORN Did Nothing Wrong. So Says the Congressional Watchdog Office, H3950 [2JN]

ACORN Workers Cleared of Illegality by Outside Probe, H3949 [2JN]

All You Need To Know About the ACORN Scandal and Who Is Behind It, H3950 [2JN]

Congress Can Learn From Tom Evans' Day, S5832 [21SE]

Federal Judge Denies First Amendment in ACORN Worker Lawsuit, H3951 [2JN]

Friendship of Justice and Magnate Puts Focus on Ethics, E1195-E1197 [24JN]

House Ban on ACORN Grants Is Ruled Unconstitutional, H3949 [2JN]

Missing Judges, S56 [5JA]

Bills and resolutions

Budget: provide for greater transparency and honesty in Federal budget process (see S. 1651), S6090 [4OC] (see H.R. 3414), H7577 [14NO]

Committee on Deficit Reduction (Joint, Select): provide for additional campaign contribution reporting requirements for members (see S. 1498), S5251 [2AU]

———require members and staff to disclose lobbying activities and political contributions, streamline hearings online, and make report and legislation public (see H.R. 2860), H5964 [7SE]

———require to conduct business in a manner open to the public (see S. 1501), S5251 [2AU] (see H.R. 2796), H5895 [5AU]

Congress: prohibit securities and commodities trading based on nonpublic information relating to Congress and require additional reporting of securities transaction by Members and employees (see S. 1871), S7452 [15NO] (see S. 1903), S7702 [17NO] (see H.R. 1148), H1982 [17MR]

———reform political system to protect elections from foreign and corporate influence and amend Senate Rules to reduce excessive obstruction and protect rights of minority Senators (see S. 9), S122 [25JA]

———require any local currencies used for Members and employees for official foreign travel be paid for using congressional funds and enhance disclosure on official congressional foreign travel (see H.R. 882), H1524 [2MR]

———require Members to place their stocks, bonds, commodities futures, and other forms of securities in a blind trust (see H.R. 3549), H8124 [2DE]

Corporations: constitutional amendment to clarify authority of Congress and the States to regulate the expenditure of funds for political activity by corporations (see H.J. Res. 78), H6097 [12SE] (see H.J. Res. 92), H8187 [6DE]

———constitutional amendment to exclude from rights given to natural persons, prohibit corporate spending on elections, and affirm power of Congress and States to regulate corporations and elections (see S.J. Res. 33), S8461 [8DE] (see H.J. Res. 90), H7891 [18NO]

Courts: provide an Inspector General for the judicial branch (see S. 348), S747 [15FE] (see H.R. 727), H923 [15FE]

Crime: prohibit public officials from engaging in undisclosed self-dealing (see S. 995), S2929 [12MY] (see H.R. 1468), H2570 [8AP] (see H.R. 1923), H3301 [13MY] (see H.R. 1973), H3409 [24MY]

———provide increased imprisonment for certain offenses by public officials (see H.R. 106), H37 [5JA]

Elections: prohibit deceptive practices in Federal elections (see S. 1994), S8602 [14DE]

FCC: disclose contributions received by a party that submits comments to certain proceedings and limit officials from working for a company after presiding over a decision involving that company (see H.R. 3763), H10015 [20DE]

Federal employees: require certain individuals to place stocks, bonds, commodities futures, and other forms of securities in a blind trust or disclose trades to the appropriate congressional official (see H.R. 3550), H8124 [2DE]

———require federally elected officials to place stocks, bonds, commodities futures, and other forms of securities in a blind trust (see H.R. 3639), H8879 [13DE]

Foreign Corrupt Practices Act: propose debarment from contracting with the Federal Government of persons violating such Act (see H.R. 3588), H8260 [7DE]

Government: prohibit from awarding contracts, grants, or other agreements to, providing any other Federal funds to, or engaging in activities that promote certain indicted organizations (see S. 182), S127 [25JA]

Government regulations: compile and report on participation data relating to Federal rulemaking (see S. 1339), S4450 [7JY]

Holder, Attorney General: express no confidence due to lack of monitoring and actions during investigation into whistleblower allegations relative to operations transferring firearms to drug cartels (see H. Res. 490), H8727 [12DE]

House Rules: prevent any Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or employee of the House from benefiting financially from vote to change the statutory limit on the public debt (see H. Res. 280), H3756 [26MY]

———prohibit Members and House employees from buying or selling securities while in possession of material or nonpublic information obtained by reason of employment in the House (see H. Res. 480), H8075 [1DE]

Law enforcement: deter public corruption (see S. 401), S870 [17FE] (see H.R. 1793), H3109 [5MY] (see H.R. 2572), H5125 [15JY]

Lawyers and attorneys: exempt qualifying law school students participating in legal clinics or externships from certain conflict of interest rules (see H.R. 1458), H2569 [8AP]

Lobbying Disclosure Act Task Force: establish (see H.R. 2339), H4527 [23JN]

Lobbyists: prohibit former Members of Congress from engaging in lobbying Congress (see H.R. 3491), H7890 [18NO]

Members of Congress: deny retirement benefits if an individual is convicted of certain offenses (see S. 1261), S4024 [22JN] (see H.R. 2162), H4185 [14JN]

———improve reporting requirements relating to foreign travel and the use of foreign currency (see S. 429), S1060 [1MR]

———increase duration of post-employment restrictions (see H.R. 3738), H10013 [20DE]

———reduce pay if a Federal budget deficit exists, increase retirement contributions, and prohibit securities and commodities trading based on certain nonpublic information (see H.R. 3565), H8186 [6DE]

———require disclosure of delinquent tax liability and require an ethics inquiry into, and the garnishment of the wages of, a Member with Federal tax liability (see H.R. 1866), H3278 [12MY]

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: retain ban on lobbying State legislators using Federal tax dollars and urge focus on motorcycle crash prevention and rider education and training (see H. Res. 239), H2933 [2MY]

OMB: establish the Office of Regulatory Integrity (see S. 1338), S4450 [7JY]

Political action committees: prohibit authorized committees and leadership committees from employing immediate family members of any candidate or Federal office holder connected to the committee (see S. 130), S125 [25JA]

———prohibit conversion of leadership political action committee funds to personal use (see H.R. 269), H201 [12JA]

Political campaigns: constitutional amendment permitting Congress and the States to establish limits on contributions and expenditures in elections for public office (see H.J. Res. 6), H41 [5JA]

———constitutional amendment to prohibit congressional candidates from accepting contributions from individuals not living in the applicable State or congressional district (see H.J. Res. 65), H3409 [24MY]

———disclose third-party communications made for or against a candidate and identifying information in Internet communications, and apply disclosure requirements to prerecorded telephone calls (see H.R. 3585), H8260 [7DE]

———limit expenditures in elections for the House of Representatives (see H.R. 2038), H3755 [26MY]

———permit candidates for Federal office to designate an individual authorized to disburse funds from the candidate's campaign committees in the event of the death of the candidate (see H.R. 406), H434 [24JA]

———prohibit a Senate or House of Representatives candidate from making campaign expenditures from amounts not raised during the election cycle for that office (see H.R. 2788), H5885 [1AU]

———prohibit contributions and expenditures by multicandidate political committees controlled by foreign-owned corporations (see H.R. 138), H38 [5JA]

———reduce limit for certain contributions to a candidate with respect to an election for Federal office (see H.R. 268), H201 [12JA]

———reform financing of House of Representatives elections (see H.R. 1404), H2410 [6AP]

———reform financing of Senate elections (see S. 750), S2188 [6AP]

———reform system of public financing of Presidential elections (see H.R. 414), H468 [25JA]

———require disclosure to shareholders of any expenditure made by companies in support of or in opposition to any candidate for Federal, State, or local public office (see H.R. 2728), H5883 [1AU]

———require shareholder authorization before a public company may make certain political expenditures (see S. 1360), S4555 [13JY] (see H.R. 2517), H5018 [13JY]

———terminate taxpayer financing of Presidential election campaigns and party conventions and terminate the Election Assistance Commission (see H.R. 3463), H7829 [17NO]

———terminate taxpayer financing of Presidential election campaigns and party conventions and terminate the Election Assistance Commission (H.R. 3463), consideration (see H. Res. 477), H7927 [29NO]

Presidents of the U.S.: require any organization established to raise funds for a Presidential archival depository or related facilities to disclose sources and amounts of funds raised (see H.R. 775), H1177 (see H.R. 775), H1196 [17FE]

Roads and highways: protect States that have in effect laws or orders with respect to pay-to-play reform (see S. 994), S2929 [12MY] (see H.R. 1924), H3301 [13MY]

Senate: establish Office of the Inspector General (see S. 428), S1060 [1MR]

Senate Rules: amend to prohibit a Member, officer, or employee from disclosing or using any material nonpublic information learned during the course of his or her service for personal gain (see S. Res. 340), S8067 [30NO]

———eliminate secret holds on Presidential nominations or legislation (see S. Res. 11), S64 [5JA] (see S. Res. 28), S338 [27JA]

———reform filibuster rules to improve daily process (see S. Res. 12), S64 [5JA]

———require a two-fifths threshold to sustain a filibuster (see S. Res. 13), S64 [5JA]

Smithsonian Institution: apply Freedom of Information Act, Privacy Act, and the Federal Advisory Committee Act (see H.R. 1786), H3108 [5MY]

Supreme Court: apply Code of Conduct for U.S. Judges to justices and establish procedures for the recusal of justices from cases (see H.R. 862), H1454 [1MR]

———express that Justices should make themselves subject to the existing and operative ethics guidelines set out in the Code of Conduct for U.S. Judges, most of which are already legally binding on them (see H. Res. 478), H7928 [29NO]

———misinterpretation of first amendment relative to Buckley v. Valeo decision on campaign contribution limits (see H. Con. Res. 4), H41 [5JA]

Taxation: permit churches and other houses of worship to engage in political campaigns (see H.R. 3600), H8260 [7DE]

Water pollution: clarify requirement that permit applications for the discharge of pollutants be approved by disinterested board members (see H.R. 2765), H5884 [1AU]

Letters

Nomination of James M. Cole to be Deputy Attorney General: Senators Grassley and Chambliss, S2767 [9MY]

Office of Congressional Ethics funding: several political organizations, H5361 [21JY]

Taxpayer financing of Presidential election campaigns and party conventions termination and Election Assistance Commission termination: Representative Hall, Committee on Science, Space and Technology (House), H8020 [1DE]

———Representative Lungren, Committee on House Administration (House), H8021 [1DE]

Whistleblower allegations relative to Dept. of Justice operations transferring firearms to drug cartels where U.S. law enforcement personnel do not monitor such firearms: Senator Grassley, Committee on the Judiciary (Senate), S2475 [14AP]

Memorandums

Congressional Investigation Regarding Whistleblower Allegations Relative to Operations Transferring Firearms to Drug Cartels Where U.S. Law Enforcement Personnel Do Not Monitor Such Firearms: Gary M. Styers, Dept. of Justice, S8572 [14DE]

Motions

Political campaigns: terminate taxpayer financing of Presidential election campaigns and party conventions and terminate the Election Assistance Commission (H.R. 3463), H8032 [1DE]

Papers

Constitutional Option—The Senate's Power To Make Procedural Rules by Majority Vote: Republican Policy Committee (excerpt), S6375 [11OC]

Senate's Power To Make Procedural Rules by Majority Vote: Republican Policy Committee, S89-S93 [25JA]

Remarks in House

Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, Inc. (ACORN): alleged involvement in voter registration fraud, H7200-H7202 [1NO]

Committee on Energy and Commerce (House): call for cooperation from OMB and the Dept. of Energy on inquiries relative to Solyndra LLC, loan guarantee and subsequent bankruptcy declaration, H6469 [3OC]

Congress: prohibit securities and commodities trading based on nonpublic information relating to Congress and require additional reporting of securities transaction by Members and employees, H8822 [13DE]

———prohibit securities and commodities trading based on nonpublic information relating to Congress and require additional reporting of securities transaction by Members and employees (H.R. 1148), H2022 [29MR], H7590 [15NO], H7631 [16NO], H7731 [17NO], H8298 [8DE], H10002 [20DE]

Corporations: constitutional amendment to clarify authority of Congress and the States to regulate the expenditure of funds for political activity by corporations (H.J. Res. 78), H6104 [13SE]

Democratic Party: condemn disparaging remarks about Tea Party, E1761 [4OC]

Dept. of Defense: defense intelligence financial statements audit, H3394 [24MY]

———prohibit funding to implement any regulation or Executive order requiring Federal contractors to disclose political contributions, H4721, H4722 [7JY]

Dept. of Energy: prohibit funding to enter into contract with a corporation or business entity that does not disclose political expenditures, H5053 [14JY]

———prohibit funding to implement any regulation or Executive order requiring Federal contractors to disclose political contributions, H5051, H5052 [14JY]

Dept. of Homeland Security: prohibit funding for any action by a political appointee to delay, vacate, or reverse any decision to make records available pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, H3905 [1JN]

———prohibit funding to implement any regulation or Executive order requiring Federal contractors to disclose political contributions, H3939, H3940 [2JN]

Dept. of Justice: appoint special counsel to investigate whistleblower allegations relative to operations transferring firearms to drug cartels where U.S. law enforcement personnel do not monitor such firearms, H6677 [11OC], H7237 [2NO], H8265 [8DE], H8973 [15DE]

———whistleblower allegations relative to operations transferring firearms to drug cartels where U.S. law enforcement personnel do not monitor such firearms, H3163 [11MY], H5090 [15JY], H5167 [19JY], H6846 [12OC], H8345-H8347 [12DE]

Government: prohibit from awarding contracts, grants, or other agreements to, providing any other Federal funds to, or engaging in activities that promote certain indicted organizations, H3902, H3903 [1JN], H3948, H3949 [2JN]

Holder, Attorney General: call for resignation due to contradictory testimony during investigation into whistleblower allegations relative to operations transferring firearms to drug cartels, H8191 [7DE]

McHenry, Representative: issue apology for behavior toward Elizabeth Warren during Committee on Oversight and Government Reform (House) hearing on Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, H3420, H3423 [25MY]

Norquist, Grover G.: allegations of criminal and ethical misconduct and use of the Taxpayer Protection Pledge to encourage partisanship and advance personal issues, H6509-H6514 [4OC]

Office of Congressional Ethics: funding, H5360-H5362 [21JY]

Political campaigns: constitutional amendment permitting Congress and the States to establish limits on contributions and expenditures in elections for public office (H.J. Res. 6), H492 [26JA]

———prohibit foreign influence, prevent Federal contractors from making expenditures, and establish additional spending disclosure requirements relative to Federal elections, H442 [25JA], H480, H487 [26JA], E2185 [6DE]

———reform financing of House of Representatives elections (H.R. 1404), E2176 [2DE]

———reform system of public financing of Presidential elections (H.R. 414), H486, H488, H490, H491 [26JA], E2173 [2DE]

———require Federal contractors to disclose political contributions, H1107-H1111 [17FE], H3952 [2JN], H4707 [7JY]

———terminate taxpayer financing of Presidential election campaigns and party conventions and terminate the Election Assistance Commission (H.R. 3463), H7970 [30NO], H8016-H8034 [1DE], E2172, E2173, E2176 [2DE], E2185 [6DE]

———terminate taxpayer financing of Presidential election campaigns and party conventions and terminate the Election Assistance Commission (H.R. 3463), consideration (H. Res. 477), H7949-H7957 [30NO]

———terminate taxpayer financing of Presidential election campaigns and party conventions and terminate the Election Assistance Commission (H.R. 3463), motion to recommit, H8032, H8033 [1DE]

Smithsonian Institution: apply Freedom of Information Act, Privacy Act, and the Federal Advisory Committee Act (H.R. 1786), E813, E831 [5MY]

Solyndra LLC: investigation into Federal loan guarantees and subsequent bankruptcy declaration, H6961 [14OC]

Supreme Court: add greater transparency and disclosure requirements, H948 [16FE]

———apply Code of Conduct for U.S. Judges to justices and establish procedures for the recusal of justices from cases (H.R. 862), E1264 [7JY]

Taxation: require disclosure of political campaign contributions by special interests and foreign influences, H497, H498 [26JA]

Thomas, Clarence: allegations of ethics violations relative to relationship with Harlan Crow, E1195 [24JN]

Remarks in Senate

Breuer, Lanny: call for resignation for allegations relative to operations transferring firearms to drug cartels where U.S. law enforcement personnel do not monitor such firearms, S8390-S8392 [7DE]

Budget: provide for greater transparency and honesty in Federal budget process (S. 1651), S6179 [5OC], S6640 [18OC]

Committee on Ethics (Senate, Select): release of report on investigation into certain actions of John Ensign and referral of report to the Dept. of Justice and the FEC, S2911-S2913 [12MY]

Corporations: constitutional amendment to exclude from rights given to natural persons, prohibit corporate spending on elections, and affirm power of Congress and States to regulate corporations and elections (S.J. Res. 33), S8463 [8DE]

Courts: delay effective date for creation of new judgeships until after next Presidential election, S7061 [2NO]

Crime: prohibit public officials from engaging in undisclosed self-dealing (S. 995), S2955 [12MY]

Dept. of Justice: conduct audits and require matching funds for grant recipients, and prohibit funding to nonprofit organizations holding money in offshore accounts, S6802, S6805-S6808, S6851 [20OC]

———prohibit funding for operations transferring firearms to drug cartels where U.S. law enforcement personnel do not monitor such firearms, S6634, S6635, S6648 [18OC]

———response to request for release of documents on whistleblower allegations relative to operations transferring firearms to drug cartels where U.S. law enforcement personnel do not monitor such firearms, S2765, S2770 [9MY], S4139 [28JN]

———whistleblower allegations relative to operations transferring firearms to drug cartels where U.S. law enforcement personnel do not monitor such firearms, S2474 [14AP], S6991-S6993 [1NO], S8110 [1DE], S8570-S8573 [14DE]

FCC: investigation regarding approval of satellite spectrum access by LightSquared (company), S8573 [14DE]

Law enforcement: deter public corruption (S. 401), S904 [17FE]

McConnell, John J., Jr.: suitability to be district judge relative to law firm practice of soliciting no-bid, contingent-fee contracts from State officials that later received political campaign contributions, S2597 [3MY], S2653 [4MY]

Obama, President: bus tour, S6628 [18OC]

OMB: establish the Office of Regulatory Integrity (S. 1338), S4453 [7JY]

Political campaigns: proposed Executive order to require Federal contractors to disclose political contributions, S2852 [11MY]

———reform financing of Senate elections (S. 750), S2262 [7AP]

Roads and highways: protect States that have in effect laws or orders with respect to pay-to-play reform (S. 994), S2954 [12MY]

Senate: legislative process, S6283-S6285, S6313-S6320 [6OC], S6374 [11OC]

Senate Rules: eliminate secret holds on Presidential nominations or legislation, S46 [5JA], S87 [25JA]

———eliminate secret holds on Presidential nominations or legislation (S. Res. 11), S36, S40-S43 [5JA]

———eliminate secret holds on Presidential nominations or legislation (S. Res. 11), unanimous-consent request, S40 [5JA]

———eliminate secret holds on Presidential nominations or legislation (S. Res. 28), S296-S329 [27JA]

———limit time for postcloture debate on nominations, S93 [25JA]

———reform filibuster rules to improve daily process, S15-S18, S45, S46 [5JA], S87, S88, S93, S97, S98 [25JA]

———reform filibuster rules to improve daily process (S. Res. 12), S46, S47 [5JA]

Solyndra LLC: investigation into Federal loan guarantees and subsequent bankruptcy declaration, S6169 [5OC]

Reports filed

Consideration of H.R. 3463, Taxpayer Financing of Presidential Election Campaigns and Party Conventions Termination and Election Assistance Commission Termination: Committee on Rules (House) (H. Res. 477) (H. Rept. 112-296), H7927 [29NO]

In the Matter of Allegations Relating to Gregory Hill: Committee on Ethics (House) (H. Rept. 112-194), H5895 [5AU]

In the Matter of Allegations Relating to Michael Collins: Committee on Ethics (House) (H. Rept. 112-193), H5895 [5AU]

In the Matter of Allegations Relating to Representative Don Young: Committee on Ethics (House) (H. Rept. 112-336), H10013 [20DE]

In the Matter of Allegations Relating to Representative Gutierrez: Committee on Ethics (House) (H. Rept. 112-192), H5895 [5AU]

In the Matter of Allegations Relating to Representative Schmidt: Committee on Ethics (House) (H. Rept. 112-195), H5895 [5AU]

In the Matter of Allegations Relating to Todd Poole: Committee on Ethics (House) (H. Rept. 112-203), H6096 [12SE]

Public Corruption Prosecution Improvements Act: Committee on the Judiciary (Senate) (S. 401), S5017 [28JY]

Statements

Supreme Court Justice's Recusal Decisions Should Be Transparent and Reviewable: Alliance for Justice, E1264 [7JY]

Tables

CBO preliminary estimate—change in amounts subject to appropriation arising from Section 511 of the Tax Increase Prevention and Reonciliation Act, S6852 [20OC]

Texts of

H. Res. 477, consideration of H.R. 3463, taxpayer financing of Presidential election campaigns and party conventions termination and Election Assistance Commission termination, H7949 [30NO]

H.R. 3463, taxpayer financing of Presidential election campaigns and party conventions termination and Election Assistance Commission termination, H8016-H8019 [1DE]

S. 9, Political Reform and Gridlock Elimination Act, S129 [25JA]

S. 401, Public Corruption Prosecution Improvements Act, S905 [17FE]

S. 750, Fair Elections Now Act, S2202-S2208 [6AP]

S. 994, State Ethics Law Protection Act, S2954 [12MY]

S. 995, Public Officials Accountability Act, S2955 [12MY]

S. Res. 11, amend Senate Rules to eliminate secret holds on Presidential nominations or legislation, S66 [5JA]

S. Res. 12, amend Senate Rules to reform filibuster rules to improve daily process, S66 [5JA]

S. Res. 13, amend Senate Rules to require a two-fifths threshold to sustain a filibuster, S67 [5JA]

S. Res. 28, amend Senate Rules to eliminate secret holds on Presidential nominations or legislation, S326, S340 [27JA]

S. Res. 340, amend Senate Rules to prohibit a Member, officer, or employee from disclosing or using any material nonpublic information learned during the course of his or her service for personal gain, S8072 [30NO]