Statement: Roosevelt Fellow Responds to Sweeping Ethics Bill’s Move to the House
“For decades, influence in Washington has been a matter of money: those who can afford to pay get to make the rules and determine the future of our country. This systemic corruption undermines democracy and exacerbates economic inequality.”
Today, Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) introduced companion legislation for the Anti-Corruption and Public Integrity Act, which was introduced in the Senate by Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) earlier this year.
The bill’s key provisions would create a single federal anticorruption agency, ban current members of Congress and senior government officials from owning stock, and create a lifetime ban on lobbying for members of Congress and senior government officials and eliminates the revolving door between agencies and the companies they regulate.
In response, Julie Margetta Morgan, Fellow at the Roosevelt Institute and Co-Director of the Great Democracy Initiative, issued the following statement:
“For decades, influence in Washington has been a matter of money: those who can afford to pay get to make the rules and determine the future of our country. This systemic corruption undermines democracy and exacerbates economic inequality.
“The Anti-Corruption and Public Integrity Act provides many of the tools needed to ensure that policymakers prioritize the public interest over their self-interest, and make sure all of our voices are heard – not just those who can afford to buy a seat at the table. Representative Jayapal’s announcement signals a strong step forward for making tackling corruption a priority among lawmakers.”
Morgan is the co-author of Unstacking the Deck: A New Agenda to Tame Corruption in Washington, which examines the role of money in government and the revolving door between lobbyists and regulators. The report calls for modernized ethics rules, an end to the revolving door, and the creation of a federal enforcement agency to fight corruption.
About the Roosevelt Institute
Until the rules work for every American, they’re not working. The Roosevelt Institute asks: what does a better society look like? Armed with a bold vision for the future, we push the economic and social debate forward. We believe that those at the top hold too much power and wealth, and that our economy will be stronger when that changes. Ultimately, we want our work to move the country toward a new economic and political system: one built by many for the good of all.
It takes all of us to rewrite the rules. From emerging leaders to Nobel laureate economists, we’ve built a network of thousands. At Roosevelt, we make influencers more thoughtful and thinkers more influential. We also celebrate—and are inspired by—those whose work embodies the values of both Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt and carries their vision forward today.
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