Would Dems Support the Elevation of their Ethically-Challenged Colleague?
November 29, 2011
FYI, a similar version of this release below went out to the following districts: Jason Altmire (PA-04), John Barrow (GA-12), Sanford Bishop (GA-02), Tim Bishop (NY-01), Leonard Boswell (IA-03), Bruce Braley (IA-01), Lois Capps (CA-24), Russ Carnahan (MO-03), Kathy Castor (FL-11), Ben Chandler (KY-06), David Cicilline (RI-01), Gerry Connolly (VA-11), Jim Cooper (TN-05), Jim Costa (CA-21), Mark Critz (PA-12), Henry Cuellar (TX-28), Peter DeFazio (OR-04), John Garamendi (CA-03), Raul Grijalva (AZ-07), Brian Higgins (NY-27), Jim Himes (CT-04), Ruben Hinojosa (TX-15), Kathy Hochul (NY-26), Tim Holden (PA-17), Rush Holt (NJ-12), Steve Israel (NY-02), Bill Keating (MA-10), Ron Kind (WI-03), Larry Kissell (NC-08), Rick Larsen (WA-02), David Loebsack (IA-02), Jim Matheson (UT-02), Carolyn McCarthy (NY-04), Mike McIntyre (NC-07), Jerry McNerney (CA-09), Michael Michaud (ME-02), Brad Miller (NC-13), Bill Owens (NY-23), Frank Pallone (NJ-06), Ed Perlmutter (CO-07), Gary Peters (MI-09), Collin Peterson (MN-07), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), David Price (NC-04), Nick Rahall (WV-03), Loretta Sanchez (CA-46), Kurt Schrader (OR-05), Heath Shuler (NC-11), Adam Smith (WA-09), Betty Sutton (OH-13), John Tierney (MA-06), Paul Tonko (NY-21), Niki Tsongas (MA-05), Pete Visclosky (IN-01), Tim Walz (MN-01), John Yarmuth (KY-03)
Would Matheson Support the Elevation of His Ethically-Challenged Colleague?
Pelosi Poised to Tap Maxine Waters as Top Democrat on the Powerful Financial Services Committee Amidst Multiple Bank-Related Ethics Charges
Washington — Jim Matheson’s House Democrat Caucus once again finds itself facing allegations of impropriety with its presumed appointment of ethically-challenged Maxine Waters (D-CA) to head the Financial Services Committee in the wake of Barney Frank’s (D-MA) retirement. Although Waters is a close Pelosi ally, her bank-related ethics charges make her a highly questionable pick for the most powerful Democrat overseeing the financial industry. Does Matheson agree that Waters should take the top spot in the Financial Services Committee despite her numerous ethics charges?
“Just when you thought Jim Matheson’s party could not get more extreme than Barney Frank, his leaders are preparing to promote the ethically-challenged Maxine Waters to replace him as the most powerful Democrat overseeing the financial industry,” said NRCC Communications Director Paul Lindsay. “Matheson’s constituents in Utah are looking for good governance from Washington, not more favoritism to party insiders with highly questionable pasts. His silence so far can only be interpreted as tacit approval of his party’s latest out-of-touch action to maintain the swamp that Nancy Pelosi pledged to drain in 2006.”
Maxine Waters is all but certain to become the next ranking Democrat on the House Financial Services Committee:
“The ranking seat is going to go to Maxine Waters. I’m just trying to think of someone going to replace [Rep. Barney] Frank who is more outspoken and perhaps more out of the mainstream – some would argue it would be her.” (Carl Quintanilla, CNBC’s “Squawk on the Street,” 11/28/11)
But Waters’ succession of Frank will be fraught with controversy:
“Waters’ ethics questions are another drag on her bid. She was hit by the Ethics Committee last year with three charges related to her actions on the Financial Services panel, including whether she arranged meetings with the Treasury Department on behalf of a bank in which her husband had been a director and owned stock.” (Jonathan Strong and Daniel Newhauser, “Battle to Replace Barney Frank on Financial Services Could Be Contentious,”
Roll Call, 11/29/11)
Despite Waters’ bank-related ethics charges, she is the top candidate for the ranking spot and a close Pelosi ally:
“‘Maxine Waters and Nancy Pelosi are homegirls,’ [Rep. Emanuel] Cleaver said.” (Jonathan Strong and Daniel Newhauser, “Battle to Replace Barney Frank on Financial Services Could Be Contentious,”
Roll Call, 11/29/11)
Since another ethically-challenged politician is poised to roil the top ranks of House Democrat leadership, Jim Matheson should state whether or not he will stand up to Leader Pelosi in giving Maxine Waters the top Democrat spot in the Financial Services Committee.
Would Dems Support the Elevation of their Ethically-Challenged Colleague? http://bit.ly/ulV2nB #madeinwdc
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