Top 10 Government Ethics Scandals of 2007

CREW (Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington) released its top 10 ethical scandals list for 2007 today. No rankings within this top 10:

• No new enforcement mechanisms for congressional ethics
• Ted Stevens(R-AK) still sitting on Senate Appropriations (The FBI raided his house and office in their bribery investigations!)
• Senate Ethics Committee looking into Sen. Craig(R-ID), but not Sen. Vitter (R-LA)(Why would soliciting anonymous gay sex be a problem, but frequenting heterosexual prostitutes not? Homophobic much, senators?)
• Millions of missing White House emails still unaccounted for
• Rep. Murtha(D-PA)’s abuse of the earmarking process remains unchecked
• Lurita Doan remains chief of Government Services Administration despite illegal conduct
• White House covering up its role in the firings of the U.S. Attorneys (I guess this list was made up before the even greater White House cover up of '07: the destruction of the CIA torture tape.)
• No Child Left Behind funds directed to Bush fundraisers who provide inadequate reading materials for kids
• Court decision regarding search of Jefferson’s office limits ability of DOJ to investigate other corrupt lawmakers
• FEMA knowingly let Katrina victims live in hazardous trailers (Not to mention evictions and the current attempt to destroy all public housing in New Orleans!)

The full report is here. Some progress was made at the beginning of 'o7 to follow through on the Democrats' promise to correct the "culture of corruption," but some of it was blocked in the Senate and not enough enforcement was done. In general, Speaker Pelosi (D-CA) has been as much a disappointment in this area as she has in oversight of the White House or other progressive causes. I hope her liberal district mounts a primary challenge against her. We need a true progressive as House Speaker and Pelosi is a huge disappointment.