20 Most Corrupt Members Of Congress: Burns, Frist, Santorum, Doolittle, Jefferson...

[Richard Tafoya]

Huffington Post:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2006/09/20/20-most-corrupt-members-o_n_29863.html

Today, the Center For Responsibility And Ethics In Washington released its second annual survey of the twenty most corrupt members of Congress, aptly named "Beyond DeLay: The 20 Most Corrupt Members of Congress (and five to watch)."

CREW inventoried the "transgressions" of each member of Congress under the microscope of federal law and congressional rules.

Some highlights:
-The three most corrupt Senate members are the infamous Conrad Burns (R-MT), Bill Frist (R-TN), and Rick Santorum (R-PA)
-Seventeen of the twenty "Most Corrupt" politicians are Republicans
-Four of the "Five Members To Watch" are Republicans
-All but one of the 25 Members of Congress included on the list are up for re-election

The Full List:
Members of the Senate:
Conrad Burns (R-MT)
Bill Frist (R-TN)
Rick Santorum (R-PA)

Members of the House:
Alan Mollohan (D-WV)
Roy Blunt (R-MO)
Marilyn Musgrave (R-CO)
Ken Calvert (R-CA)
Richard Pombo (R-CA)
John Doolittle (R-CA)
Rick Renzi (R-AZ)
Tom Feeney (R-FL)
Pete Sessions (R-TX)
Katherine Harris (R-FL)
John Sweeney (R-NY)
William Jefferson (D-LA)
Charles Taylor (R-NC)
Jerry Lewis (R-CA)
Maxine Waters (D-CA)
Gary Miller (R-CA)
Curt Weldon (R-PA)

Five Members to Watch:
Chris Cannon (R-UT)
J.D. Hayworth (R-AZ)
Dennis Hastert (R-IL)
John Murtha (D-PA)
Rep. Don Sherwood (R-PA)

For more information see the official press release here (http://citizensforethics.org/press/newsrelease.php?view=156).
Or visit the project website beyonddelay.org (http://www.beyonddelay.org/).

[db44]

Murtha? Interesting.

[Venisenvy]

things not looking good for california.

[LesterX]

^Not really. California has 53 members of Congress, so the names on that list represent 11% of the members. Several states on the list have a higher percentage of Reps. on the list. West Virginia, for example, only has three Reps., so that means 1/3rd of their members are considered corrupt.

[lions1mew]

Oh trust me, here in my district in Airy Zonie we ARE watching J.D. Hayworth. He's under investigation after the Abramoff scandal for accepting all sorts of "perks" ... he's disgusting. Doesn't surprise me that Renzi is also on there. They should be watching John Kyl from here in the Senate as well. Such a corrupt lil group this red state has representing us *shakes head*

[Paulie]

things not looking good for california.

Obviously, they have to stop electing Republicans to serve in Congress...seems like they're all pretty much corrupt.

Paulie

[db44]

Funny that two people at the top of the list have been suggested as heirs to the Republican party.

By the way Paulie, I think there's another AL East team which choked away their hopes this year... Hey! We have too much pitching! :rolleyes:

[Venisenvy]

Obviously, they have to stop electing Republicans to serve in Congress...seems like they're all pretty much corrupt.

Paulie


We just have to elect different republicans. My state has been electing the right republicans(not on list) to the house.

[db44]

Too bad you CTers don't do the same thing when it comes to governors. :tongue:

[Venisenvy]

lol...While I can't say much about that seeing as I voted for the guy, come November we will vote a Republican into the Governors office that is not Corrupt:) Most popular governor in the country last time I checked. Although to be fair, it wasn't a tough act to follow, Don't take bribes and you're probably going to be fairly popular. But she is the real deal, and a very good smart governor for the state.

[oxymoron]

I find this report to be a political "hatchet" job. It is politics of the worst sort. It makes all guides of subjective judgements and does not give the politician a chance to defend him or herself against charges.

While it is of value to educate the public on the conduct of our politicians, the sensationalizing headlines and selective presentation of facts is dangerous and destructive.

I accuse any democrat who supports this type of politics of poisoning the political dialogue in this nation, practicing the politics of personal destruction and diverting focus from the issues of concern to the American people.

Disgusting.