On the recordMarch 6, 2012
we live in a time when public trust in all of our government institutions is at an alltime low and unfortunately continues to deteriorate. Recent polls indicate public confidence in Congress is at 11 percent, which is a record-low approval rating. Americans have been skeptical of politicians in general and Congress in particular from the beginning of this Republic. It is a healthy skepticism which reflects the freedoms that are part of our democracy and the right of people to disagree with leadership with impunity under our Constitution, with some limitations. So I take it in historical context but still cannot escape the reality that the numbers today are lower than ever. The legislative branch is not the only branch of government the public holds in low regard. Polls also indicate that the U.S. Supreme Court has recently received its second lowest approval rating in history. One way those of us who serve in government can increase public trust and confidence is to be more transparent about how we operate and the standards to which we are held. The recent passage of the STOCK Act in the Senate is an indication of a continuing effort to alert the public to what we do as Members of Congress which bears scrutiny. I make a disclosure each year, which goes beyond the requirements of the law, and many others do as well. The STOCK Act will bring many Members of Congress to an even higher level of disclosure--as they should be.…
