Blog - Pelosi Announces New Ethics Leader

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi announced that Stephanie Tubbs Jones will be taking over as chairwoman on the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct. This will be a crucial position in the shape of the Democratic party, as they have made ethics reform such a large part of their agenda. In fact, the Democrats won their majority in part because of corruption scandals in the Republican 109th Congress.

You can get to know her starting with this picture:

Stephanie Tubbs Jones generally rates well on government reform, but there is one area where it might be difficult for her to enforce the Democrat’s proposed new rules. Pelosi has set as a priority, a ban on gifts and travel paid for by lobbyists.
Jones is the most well traveled Representative thanks to the generosity of lobbyists. She has taken 74 trips since 2000. Nearly one trip per month.

“I make no apologies for the trips that I have taken,” Rep. Jones said in a statement. She noted that she receives many speaking invitations because she is “the only African-American woman, and only Democratic woman on the Ways and Means Committee.”