Advocates want ethics efforts by Congress

WASHINGTON, Oct. 19 (UPI) -- Citizen watchdog groups say they want the U.S. Congress to enforce ethical standards now that an independent ethics office is in place.

The U.S. House of Representatives created the ethics office two years ago to root out Washington corruption but no member of Congress has been censured despite a number of political scandals, The New York Times reported.

The U.S. Senate also imposed new ethics regulations deemed tough, the Times said.

Among recent scandals have been allegations of consorting with prostitutes against Sen. David Vitter, R-La., and a fundraising investigation involving Rep. Charles B. Rangel, D-N.Y.

"For a long time, matters that should have been investigated were just ignored, so we'll have to see what type of accountability we have now," said Fred Wertheimer, a staunch supporter of intensified ethics rules in the Congress.

The last formal censure in Congress occurred nearly two decades ago.

Melanie Sloan, executive director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, questions whether Congress's ethics regulations will ever truly be tested.

"Congress will protect its own, no matter what," Sloan told the Times.