QUICK STAT:

Please give what you can.

COULD IT BE A CASE OF DEJA HUGHES?

Emily Hughes get's her chance in the 2006 Olympics today. She had finished third in the trials but was replaced (at no fault of hers) by Michele Kwan who later pulled out of the games.

GOOD LUCK EMILY we're pulling for you.

WELL HERE'S A SURPRISE

The rush to revise ethics laws in the wake of the Jack Abramoff political corruption scandal has turned into more of a saunter.

A month ago, Republican leaders in Congress called legislation on the topic their first priority, and promised quick action on a measure that would alter the rules governing the interaction between lawmakers and lobbyists.

But now they do not anticipate final approval of such a measure until late March at the earliest.

The primary holdup is in the House. Republican lawmakers left Thursday for a week-long recess without agreeing on a proposal that would serve as a starting point for debate. Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) had been working with House Rules Committee Chairman David Dreier (R-Calif.) to devise such a plan and had expected to finish by now.

Their progress was slowed by the election two weeks ago of a new majority leader, Rep. John A. Boehner (R-Ohio), who has a different notion of what "reform" should entail and who challenged parts of Hastert's plan.

As I said before IS ANYONE SURPRISED. Hell "Boner" said he wasn't interested in that much change. . . make that ANY change.

I DON'T GET IT

The Office of Government Ethics has established Standards of Conduct that apply to all US government employees. Within the Department of Defense, these Standards of Conduct are implemented by the Joint Ethics Regulation, DOD 5500.7-R. Enlisted members of the uniformed services are subject to regulations issued by each service.

You should be familiar with your responsibilities under these regulations and Federal conflict of interest laws. All of the rules are derived from the following fourteen principles of ethical conduct in Executive Order 12731.

    * Public service is a public trust, requiring employees to place  loyalty to the Constitution, the laws, 
      and ethical principles above private gain.
    * Employees shall not hold financial interests that conflict with the conscientious performance of duty.
    * Employees shall not engage in financial transactions using nonpublic Government information or allow 
      the improper use of such information to further any private interest. 
    * An employee shall not, except pursuant to such reasonable exceptions as are provided by regulation, 
      solicit or accept any gift or other item of monetary value from any person or entity seeking official action 
      from, doing business with, or conducting activities regulated by the employee's agency, or whose interests 
      may be substantially affected by the performance or nonperformance of the employee's duties.
    * Employees shall put forth honest effort in the performance of their duties.
    * Employees shall make no unauthorized commitments or promises of any kind purporting to bind the Government.
    * Employees shall not use public office for private gain.
    * Employees shall act impartially and not give preferential treatment to any private organization or individual.
    * Employees shall protect and conserve Federal property and shall not use it for other than authorized activities.
    * Employees shall not engage in outside employment or activities, including seeking or negotiating for employment, 
      that conflict with official Government duties and responsibilities.
    * Employees shall disclose waste, fraud, abuse, and corruption to appropriate authorities.
    * Employees shall satisfy in good faith their obligations as citizens, including all just financial obligations, 
      especially those -- such as Federal, State, or local taxes -- that are imposed by law.
    * Employees shall adhere to all laws and regulations that provide equal opportunity for all Americans regardless 
      of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, or handicap.
    * Employees shall endeavor to avoid any actions creating the appearance that they are violating the law or the
      ethical standards promulgated pursuant to this order.

Here's the bottom line? Ask yourself if a reasonable person who knew the relevant facts may think that the law or ethical standards had been violated. You should do okay if you avoid even the appearance that you are violating the law or any ethical principles. Remember, violations may subject you to administrative, civil, or even criminal penalties.

This is what I remember most about the training on Ethics that we were given:

EMPLOYEES SHALL ENDEAVOR TO AVOID ANY ACTIONS CREATING THE APPEARANCE THAT THEY ARE VIOLATING THE LAW OR THE ETHICAL STANDARDS PROMULGATED PURSUANT TO THIS ORDER.

TAKING BETS

I hear the race for the Senate seat in Pennsylvania is going to be very close with Senator Rick Santorum most likely losing.

So my bet is that he will be a "K" Street Lobbyist the first of next year.

By the way Rick Santorum has no ETHICS so the republicans put him in charge of the Ethics committee.

NO WORDS NEEDED

PRETTY GOOD JOKE

Marion Barry, Mayor of Washington, D.C.

* "Outside of the killings, [Washington] has one of the lowest crime rates in the country. " . . .

GOOD IDEA?

A guy walks into a bar and orders a drink. After a few more he needs to go to the can. He doesn't want anyone to steal his drink so he puts a sign on it saying, "I spat in this beer, do not drink!". After a few minutes he returns and there is another sign next to his beer saying, "So did I!"