Why Congress Is So Bad On Ethics

The following post for members is by David T.S. Jonas, a former economic and labor policy aide to Sen. Al Franken (D-MN).

Just one week after House Republicans tried to gut one of Congress’s only real independent watchdogs on ethics, it’s now the Senate Republicans who want to sidestep one of their established ethical checkpoints. Senate confirmation hearings are set to begin soon on high-profile positions in the Trump cabinet, but many nominees haven’t submitted tax returns and other disclosure forms necessary to do a thorough background check.