Van Hollen: Dems have strengthened ethics process

Ethics trials against two top-ranking Democrats will help the party underscore the reforms they've brought to the House, the House Democratic campaign chief asserted Thursday.

The trials awaiting Reps. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) and Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) in September will underscore the change in the House since ethics charges contributed to the GOP losing its House majority in in 2006, said Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), the chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC).

"It's another example of how we've actually strengthened the ethics process," Van Hollen said during an appearance on MSNBC. 

Democrats face a difficult election environment this fall, and ethics trials this fall for Waters and Rangel could weigh the party down further. 

Van Hollen's comments show the campaign chief is trying to put the best face on the proceedings, expected to begin less than two months before election day.

Ethics cases are typically seen as a burden for an incumbent party heading into elections. Republicans were saddled with scandals related to lobbyist Jack Abramoff and other issues before losing the House and Senate in 2006. And Democrats in 1994 faced a plague of their own ethical problems before the GOP landslides that year.

“Saying that Chairman Rangel’s ethics woes help Washington Democrats make a case that they ‘drained the swamp’ is like arguing that near double-digit unemployment helps make the case for their trillion-dollar ‘stimulus’ spending binge," said Michael Steel, a spokesman for House GOP leader John Boehner (Ohio). "The American people, who are asking ‘where are jobs,’ are left wondering what planet out-of-touch Democratic Leaders are on.”

Van Hollen, however, said the lawmakers might not even have faced the trials under the rules Republicans had maintained. He pointed to Republicans' decision to waive some rules to allow then-Rep. Tom DeLay (R-Texas) to continue to serve in leadership after having faced indictment.

"The facts are clear: We have strengthened the ethics process," Van Hollen said.

Updated 2:58 p.m.