House of Representatives Republican John Doolittle made a statement after Chris Bell, a Democrat, said he would send a complaint about Tom DeLay (R) to the House ethics committee. Doolittle said "you kill my dog, I'll kill your cat." You can read the story at Mother Earth, titled Justice DeLayed.
It seems oversights committees are more interested in appearing to be ethical, than they are in actually policing unethical behavior. They create committees to ensure what they call "public confidence."
In an article "Watchdogs on Short Leashes: Electorate: the ultimate judge," published on the eve of 2002 on the website of the Center For Public Integrity, there was information regarding the Maine Ethics Commission. Apparently, the Commission’s own executive director had doubts about the legislative oversights Commission:
It seems oversights committees are more interested in appearing to be ethical, than they are in actually policing unethical behavior. They create committees to ensure what they call "public confidence."
In an article "Watchdogs on Short Leashes: Electorate: the ultimate judge," published on the eve of 2002 on the website of the Center For Public Integrity, there was information regarding the Maine Ethics Commission. Apparently, the Commission’s own executive director had doubts about the legislative oversights Commission:
Bill Hain, executive director of the Maine Commission on Governmental and Election Practices, said the legislature created his commission to placate the public rather than to have meaningful oversight of the legislature. (Vogel and Rush, 2001).
