Ethics in Government Quotes

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

The inside operation of Congress - the deals, the compromises, the selling out, the co-opting, the unprincipled manipulating, the self-serving career-building - is a story of such monumental decadence that I believe if people find out about it they will demand an end to it.

If I was a President I want to put an end to only large financial contributors, lobbyists, inside-the-Beltway fat cats, and corporate bigwigs getting to sleep in the Lincoln Bedroom. I will keep that room open only for people for whom it is too late to drive after attending one of my secret-underground-bunker-after-hours parties.

I think Donald Trump can take major steps towards reassuring the American people that there can't even be appearance of impropriety for pay-to-play schemes under his administration.

There is a good chance Donald Trump won't survive four years. Conflict of interest is the biggest danger for Trump. He is destroying one of the pillars of the free world. He is seeking to eliminate the very concept of conflict of interest. A lot of things in America were built on a code of honour. I am confident the damage done by ruling through family and friends will be made impossible by future regulation.

A new report reveals that New Jersey Governor Chris Christie spent over $82,000 on food at NFL games. Christie said, 'Hey, both of those games went into overtime.'

The first law I passed in my cabinet was a law eliminating the double salary for the prime minister and the ministers. I have a salary as member of parliament. I don't want a double salary. So it was a very important decision.

The idea that money is corrupting innocent politicians would be laughable if it did not lead to such dangerous legislation.

All this money washing around Washington and all of these contributions taint all of us.

I do not talk to the FBI directors about pending investigations [on Hillary Clinton].

It couldn't be clearer, any person who holds an office of trust is not allowed to accept favors or gifts from foreign governments.

President Obama signed a bill preventing members of Congress from profiting from insider trading. Didn't you think that was already illegal?

To drain the swamp of corruption in Washington, D.C., I started by impose ago five-year lobbying ban on white house officials, and a lifetime ban on lobbying for a foreign government.

Congress voted for tougher laws on corporations. So now when a corporation buys a senator, they need a receipt.

The president-elect [Donald Trump] himself in the interview with "The New York Times" says there is no law that governs conflict of interest in - with the president.

What kind of man would put a known criminal in charge of a major branch of government? Apart from, say, the average voter.

Hold us accountable. There's no accountability in Washington. Drain the swamp.

Since when do grown men and women, who presume to hold high government office and exercise what they think of as "moral leadership," require ethics officers to tell them whether it is or isn't permissible to grab the secretary's behind or redirect public funds to their own personal advantage?

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.

The crossroads where government meets enterprise can be an exciting crossroads. It can also be a corrupt crossroads. It requires moral rectitude to separate public service from private gain.

Walt Shaub is a dedicated public servant, has come up through the ranks under both Democrats and Republicans.