Jo Ann Davis Quotes

I think Congress has spent enough time on ethics. I think it's time they moved on to something else.

In a Congressional ethics investigation of members there is a conflict of interest…in a sense, the norms and practices of the institution are on trial.

[On congressional reform:] If you purify the pond, the water lilies die.

Meaningful ethics reform is vital to restoring public confidence in Missouri's political system.

We have now recently launched the national integrity plan.

I think the record shows that as Speaker, I have taken the lead in cleaning up politics.

If you chose to serve in Congress or on a congressional staff, you should be barred for life from working for any company, organization, or association which lobbies the federal government.

Given the way some fought for the status quo when I authored the new Ethics Code and created the city's first Ethics Commission, we are going to need your strong support to get an even tougher Ethics Code passed this year.

The American people voted to restore integrity and honesty in Washington, D.C., and the Democrats intend to lead the most honest, most open and most ethical Congress in history.

I don't think that Washington is a fundamentally bad or corrupt place.

Congress can’t discipline itself.

I want either less corruption, or more chance to participate in it.

Corruption is one of the high priorities of my agenda.

Corruption is not the sole test of your worthiness to form the government.

Politics have no relation to morals.

Congress should get the job done.

The Watergate reforms did work well for many years, and if improved and broadened, these reforms can have real and major impact on the system today.

As Members of Congress, we should not be using public office for private gain.

When it comes to governments and corporations, we should demand that less is secret. That's where corruption flowers.

A competition of the best ideas - that should be what Congress is about.

In many ways, our campaign this year will be the same as last time: We're still going to focus on fixing up basics and cleaning up ethics at City Hall.

I came to office promising major ethics reform to end the culture of self-dealing. And today, that ethics reform is a law. While I was at it, I got rid of a few things in the governor's office that I didn't believe our citizens should have to pay for. That luxury jet was over-the-top. I put it on eBay.

Personally I don't think solving corruption is such a big problem.

Under the circumstances, may I suggest another means of encouraging probity in elective office. I refer to term limitations, which can serve ends beyond that of saving congressional souls.

In Minnesota, we hold our leaders to a higher standard. We demand that the men and women we send to Washington stand above reproach and steer clear of the web of corruption, kickbacks and special favors.