House considers independent ethics panel

If the panel is, indeed, going to be independent, then let it be just that; composed of real independents (with a small "i"), people who have never registered with either major or minor parties.

There are plenty of us out here, some of whom would be willing to serve in such a capacity, I am sure.

Furthermore, there should be a certain anonymity for the panel, so they cannot be hounded by the press or lobbyist or political aides.

Perhaps, they should be a little like a Grand Jury, in that there is always one seated, so that when action is needed, it can be swift.

House considers independent ethics panel - Yahoo! News:

House leaders are creating a bipartisan task force on whether to establish an independent ethics panel to police the House, Speaker-to-be Nancy Pelosi said Thursday.

Pelosi, D-Calif., said Republican leader John Boehner of Ohio has agreed to the idea. The task force has not been set up yet, but it will be expected to report back in March, she said.

Pelosi offered no details on what the outside ethics group might look like, saying that would be up to the task force.

'There is no question that the ethics process in the last couple of years has lost the confidence of the American people,' Pelosi told a news conference. 'I'm hopeful that it's possible that we can have an outside entity that will restore that confidence.'