Obama urges ethics reform, new oversight
WASHINGTON (CNN) - Illinois Sen. Barack Obama criticized the cozy relationship between lawmakers and lobbyists, and pledged his support for the ethics bill pending in the Senate on Thursday morning.
"It is time that we had a Congress that tells drug companies or oil companies or the insurance industry that while they may get a seat at the table in Washington, they don't get to buy every single chair," Obama said on the Senate floor.
The ethics bill, which passed overwhelmingly in the House on Tuesday, includes provisions for banning gifts paid for by lobbyists and forces members of Congress to disclose pet projects.
Obama said he will also continue to work to create an independent department responsible for policing ethical matters in Congress. "So long as we are our own prosecutors, judge, jury, the public will never have complete trust in our decisions," he said.
–CNN Associate Producer Lauren Kornreich
Related: Senators primed to require more disclosure of pet projects
Finally, a candidate that is not fully bought by the big bucks. Obama makes average people feel as if there is a place at the table for us. We still are disadvantaged because we cannot leave work to lobby for our own causes.
Change rules relative to access to elected officials for any citizen regardless to money.
J. N.
Greensboro, NC
GO Obama GO!!! of course it passes, they know they have to get reelected.
I find it hilarious that senators clinton and obama are using as their presidential platform ideas and reforms they could do as members of the Senate...
But hey, why do your job at all?
Senator Obama is in a tough battle. All the status quo politicians just don’t get it. Their fomula of distracting us with hatred while they rob us blind has worked for a long time and I'm sure they're finding it hard to belive that the majority of the voters are finally able to see through the smoke screens they and the media are using to keep us in the divided but soon they will be made aware. "The jiggs up". The media is fighting to keep their power and influence over what the electorate thinks about a candidate in order to maintain their relevance, and "Yes, we see you too". Drive on Senator the people get you! We are beside you. Anyone claiming to be swayed against supporting you because of sensationalized news reporting or the adolescent ramblings of the other so called "front runners" don't deserve the opportunity to be apart of this historic movement. "We will win because we're on god's side"
Be diligent!
Even as a Conservative I can't come up with any negative thing to say about Obama here. He is out and out RIGHT.
"We want ethics reform, but we only want my candidate or my own party to be the ones to do it"?? What the...
We all should be on board with this.
"Here you go again…whatever Obama says you people critize."
How does one critize something?
If you meant criticize then I counter with, whatever Obama says you people fawn all over him like a bunch of dumbass parents going all gooey over their ugly baby...
This would be a HUGE step in the right direction. God bless those political leaders who, by nature, are honest and possess integrity.
However, this kind of reform would serve as a deterrent for those who do not have an issue with pushing the envelope for personal gain.
Kudos!