Sunday, June 24, 2007

Obama Finally Delivers Substance: A Proposal for True Ethics Reform - Vol. 3 Issue 71

Up until last week, John Edwards was the only Democratic contender who consistently presented real ideas and proposals. For example, Edward’s plan for a single payer health care system is by far best that has been presented by any candidate. There has been a striking lack of actual specific proposals presented by the crowded field of candidates. No intelligent citizen can get excited watching what the mainstream media calls “debates,” but are really just cattle calls. This spring, I have been patiently waiting for Barack Obama to find an important issue and make it his own. That finally happened this past week.

In a series of speeches, Obama took control of the issue of executive ethics reform and proposed comprehensive change in the lobbying rules to lessen the influence of special interests and former executive branch employees. Obama begin his ethics offensive by calling for end to the use of legislative “earmarks” and making public all 108 of his. For those of you who only read the sports page, “earmarks” are usually brick-and-mortar projects that members of Congress insert into spending bills to help constituents (generally campaign contributors or large employers) in their district or state. The process is anonymous and virtually ALL members of Congress engage in the practice. These anonymous spending bills are used to reward political cronies and sometimes to extort kickbacks from unethical beneficiaries.

Here is Obama in his own words setting forth a bold proposal for reforming executive branch ethics:

"When I am president, I will make it absolutely clear that working in an Obama administration is not about serving your former employer, your future employer or your bank account—it’s about serving your country, and that’s what comes first.

The people I’ve met all across the country don’t just want reform for reform’s sake. They’re not just do-gooders. They want reform that will help pay their doctor’s bills, they want reform to ensure that their tax dollars are spent wisely, they want reform to put us on the path to energy independence. They want real reform, and they’re tired of the lobbyists standing in the way."

Obama cited, as an example, the no-bid contracts given to companies with Bush administration ties to clean up after Hurricane Katrina and in Iraq, wasting money that could have been spent on housing for displaced residents of New Orleans or protection for soldiers, as concrete effects of government dysfunction. See, WashingtonPost.com.

The details of Obama’s proposal, if implemented would change the face of Washington:
1.  Political appointees would be barred from lobbying the White House after leaving its employ.
2.  Eliminating the awarding of no-bid contracts.
3.  Increasing access to Administration records.

Obama has taken-on a very powerful issue. He will gain support from this and has proven to me that he has a formidable political agenda. Here’s hoping he’s as precise on other issues facing the nation.

Semper Fi,

Savant