Removing the Watchdogs, Part 1

In what one can easily assume is a sign of things to come, House Republicans have now voted to strip the Office of Congressional Ethics of its oversight ability.

https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/3249503-OCE-NEW-RULE.html

Instead, it will now be up to the congressional Committee on Ethics to police itself.  This was pushed through in secret without debate and, interestingly, over the objections of Speaker Paul Ryan (among others).

In effect, the House Republicans have unilaterally removed a key ethics watchdog.  Given that they are going to be trying to ramrod through their agenda while they control all three chambers, it's understandable why they may not wish to have anyone keeping tabs on the lobbyists who knock on their doors, dinners they attend, gifts they may or may not receive, and promises they make behind closed doors in exchange for votes and favors.  Anyone who believes they will actually police themselves...well, they probably voted for Trump.