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Issue: 856 Date: 1/18/2007
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McCaskill Casts First Vote, Discusses Ethics Legislation
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Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill cast her first vote on the Senate floor today in support of a resolution to honor the life and legacy of the late President Gerald R. Ford. Immediately following the vote, McCaskill joined several colleagues for a press conference to discuss an ethics reform package, which will be the first bill taken up by the Senate.
"I am proud to have cast my first vote to honor the presidency of a man who will forever be known for healing our country at a critical time," McCaskill said. "I must admit that the experience of taking to the Senate floor to cast my vote just as so many incredible Missouri Senators have before me was amazing. I look forward to many more proud votes."
McCaskill joined Senators Harry Reid (D-Nevada), Russ Feingold (D-Wisconsin), and Barack Obama (D-Illinois), as well as fellow freshmen Senators, including Ben Cardin (D-Maryland), Bernie Sanders (D-VT), Bob Casey (D-Pennsylvania), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-Rhode Island), and Jon Tester (D-Montana) to talk about upcoming ethics legislation.
Amidst the political scandals uncovered in 2006, the new Congress plans to address strict ethical standards, including the prohibition of gifts and travel paid for by lobbyists, closing the "revolving door" for Members becoming lobbyists, as well as better lobbying disclosure and stringent transparency of the Senate activities.
McCaskill also expressed her desire to create an Office of Public Integrity to ensure the highest of ethical standards would be imposed beyond the rules associated with legislation. Scandals like that of Congressman Mark Foley showed that it is far too easy for a cover-up to occur when close friends and political colleagues can determine the consequences.
"The American people spoke loud and clear this past November that they want a government that holds itself to higher ethical standards. I applaud the leadership in the Senate for delivering legislation that does just that," McCaskill said. "The tightening of our ethics policies will allow the United States Congress to act more independently from the influence of lobbyists, cutting the lifeline from the moneyed interests that found their way into our legislative process." |
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