When you don’t want people to know what you are up to, have a closed-door Republicans-only meeting, and muzzle the watchdogs.
WASHINGTON, Jan 2 (Reuters) - Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives agreed on Monday to weaken a nonpartisan ethics watchdog on the grounds it had grown too intrusive, prompting Democrats to charge they were scaling back independent oversight ahead of a new legislative session.
As they returned to Washington following a holiday break, House Republicans voted in a closed-door meeting to place the Office of Congressional Ethics under the oversight of the House Ethics Committee, giving lawmakers greater control over an independent body charged with investigating their behavior.
The measure was added to a broader rules package that is expected to pass when the House formally convenes on Tuesday.
In the 2nd century A.D., Juvenal asked: Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
Who watches the watchers?
It looks like it’s going to be those being watched.
Time to write your Congressperson.