The Republican-majority 115th House of Representatives made quite a splash on its first day in session.
After first voting privately to gut the Office of Congressional Ethics, lawmakers withdrew the plan early Tuesday. The move followed this Donald Trump
: "With all that Congress has to work on, do they really have to make the weakening of the Independent Ethics Watchdog, as unfair as it may be, their number one act and priority? Focus on tax reform, healthcare, and so many other things of far greater importance!"
What were Republicans intending to do in placing the independent ethics office under the control of a committee of Congress Members? Bakersfield Congressman Kevin McCarthy also opposed the vote, along with House Speaker Paul Ryan.
Larry and guests discuss the start of the new year and preview the rancorous week ahead, including dueling ACA rallies, Democrats’ strategy in opposing Trump cabinet nominees and the new priorities of the most Republican government in a decade.
Guests:
Lisa Garcia Bedolla, Chancellor’s Professor of education and political science at UC Berkeley
Pete Peterson, dean of the School of Public Policy and senior fellow at The Davenport Institute at Pepperdine University