All Americans, conservative and progressive alike, should remember and be outraged about the first action taken, last week, by the Republican members of the House of Representatives.

Meeting in secret, behind closed doors, Republicans voted to kill the Office of Congressional Ethics, an independent ethics committee.

Corruption exists in both parties and there needs to be an independent watchdog. So how did our local Congressman, Representative Dave Reichert, vote? Reichert is supposed to be a moderate, but he voted with the extremist Republican majority.

Since he was once a Sheriff, you would think Reichert would be a defender of ethical accountability. But not so much. Four years ago, Reichert held a $2,400-a-plate fundraiser, and who did he bring to be the keynote speaker? Newt Gingrich. Yes, that Newt. The one time Republican Speaker of the House, and master of ethics violations, who resigned in disgrace with 84 ethics charges.

Holding up Gingrich as someone to listen to, undermines your ethical credibility in my book. I shouldn’t have been surprised at Reichert’s vote, but I was. Fortunately, Americans all over the country called their Congressman to protest, and the Republicans backed off. It is an ominous portent for what is to come. Ask yourself: Did Reichert’s vote represent you?

Roger Ledbetter

Snoqualmie