Pelosi Spokesman Statement in Advance of Republican Leader Boehner's Speech on Congressional Reform

WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Below is a statement from Nadeam Elshami, spokesman for Speaker Nancy Pelosi, in advance of House Republican Leader John Boehner's speech on Congressional reform at the American Enterprise Institute:

"Leading independent advocates for Congressional reform credit House Democrats for taking tough action that ensured unprecedented levels of accountability and transparency.

"No speech or pledge by Mr. Boehner is going to change the Republicans' dismal record. When the GOP was in charge, they quadrupled earmarks and legislated behind closed doors on behalf of corporate special interests. Congressional Republicans and Mr. Boehner have stood in the way of Democratic reform efforts in Congress for the last four years, and now they want to take America back to the 'exact same' failed policies of the past that put the corporate special interests ahead of the middle class."

Independent advocates for Congressional reform have stated:

Fred Wertheimer, president of Democracy 21, credits Pelosi with going far beyond previous speakers, saying she changed what Democrats once called a "culture of corruption" under Republican rule. [AP 9/29/10]

Melanie Sloan, director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, said Pelosi has brought about the culture change she promised. [AP, 9/29/10]

For a link to the Democratic Record on Congressional Reform, click here.

Obstruction of Congressional Reform by House Republican Leader John Boehner and Congressional Republicans:

• Republicans in Congress have offered nothing but rhetoric about earmark reforms over the past three years and why are they now having a fight within their own party and outside groups about their commitments for reform.
• Republicans opposed  restoring "pay-as-you-go" (PAYGO) budget discipline.
• Republicans opposed  closing big election loopholes that opened the floodgates to unrestricted special interest campaign donations in American elections – even from entities controlled by foreign governments?
• Republicans opposed the creation of the Office of Congressional Ethics.
• Republicans made a regular practice of meeting with lobbyists representing Big Oil, health insurance companies, Wall Street and others in an effort to stop tough legislation that holds the Special Interests accountable and protects consumers.
• And what about Mr. Boehner's special bond with the Special Interests dating back to his earliest days in Congress when he hosted a weekly meeting of "lobbyists representing some of the richest special interests in the country" in his office, a group nicknamed the Thursday Group?

SOURCE Office of the Speaker of the House

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