Defining Ethics on Capitol Hill

Abstract

Since the passage of the 1989 Ethics Reform Act, ethics has become a heated issue in the nation's capitol. There are 7 senators currently under scrutiny. Requests for information and interpretation of the new rules have doubled in the past year, according to a staff member on the Senate and House Ethics Committees. Capitol Hill transgressions generally fall into 2 main categories: 1. accepting funny money - whatever its source, and 2. failing to be honest. Although Washington traditionally has encouraged the first transgression, most politicians censure the 2nd. Written congressional ethics codes do concentrate on the popular consensus of proper conduct; however, the definition of "improper" behavior is constantly changing. There is a fine line separating the legal from the ethical thing to do in Washington, especially when going "by the book" may only create more confusion than clarity.