Rep. Pittenger Issues Statement on Office of Congressional Ethics

WASHINGTON, Jan. 3 -- Rep. Robert Pittenger, R-N.C. (9th CD), issued the following statement regarding proposed changes to the Office of Congressional Ethics, which is separate from the bipartisan Committee on Ethics:

"My top priorities are health care reform, tax reform, and defeating radical Islamist terrorism. Reforming the Office of Congressional Ethics is a side issue, brought up because of bipartisan complaints. My friend Mel Watt, a Democrat and member of the Obama Administration, has called OCE 'redundant and duplicative' and proposed slashing its budget by 40 percent in 2011!

"Chairman Goodlatte's proposal is much more modest, addressing concerns over the current lack of due process while maintaining an independent system for receiving and investigating complaints against Members of Congress and their staff.

"Both Republicans and Democrats have called for changes to the Office of Congressional Ethics, and so it is my strong recommendation that we advance these reforms in bipartisan legislation, in lieu of a rule change."

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