Political Quotes

“Mr. Chairman, I thank the ranking member for yielding time. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to address our country's urgent need for a Supreme Court code of ethics. Over the past year, we have seen troubling reports of Justices receiving lavish gifts from political donors with connections to cases before the Supreme Court and who stand to benefit from rulings. This is unacceptable and unethical, and it has undermined public trust in the institution. It is time for the Supreme Court to adopt and abide by a judicial code of ethics. Currently, all Federal judges must abide by a code of ethics except for Supreme Court Justices. That must change. I introduced an amendment to the Financial Services and General Government appropriations bill that would withhold $10 million in funding from the Supreme Court until the Justices adopt a code of ethics. This amendment, which I introduced with Congressman Hank Johnson, would have restored public confidence in this institution. It would have helped to solve one of the many problems our voters sent us to Washington, D.C., to fix--the corrupt power of money and politics in our judicial system. Sadly, Republicans on the Rules Committee would not even consider my amendment in order. We must do better.”