Ethics in the News

Embattled FEC Nominee Withdraws

SOURCE: Matthew Murray // Roll Call

16 May 2008 // Controversial Federal Election Commission nominee Hans von Spakovsky has withdrawn his bid for a full term on the commission, the White House confirmed late Friday.

The former Justice Department lawyer’s nomination has been the linchpin in a longstanding Senate stalemate that shuttered the elections regulator Jan. 1.

The Department Of Veterans Affairs Condemns "Inappropriate" E-mail

SOURCE: Staff // CBSNews.com

16 May 2008 // A Department of Veterans Affairs team leader in Texas suggested mental health professionals should diagnose patients with “adjustment disorder” rather than post traumatic stress disorder in order to save time and money treating veterans, according to an internal VA e-mail.
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Official Urged Fewer Diagnoses of PTSD

SOURCE: Christopher Lee // The Washington Post

16 May 2008 // A psychologist who helps lead the post-traumatic stress disorder program at a medical facility for veterans in Texas told staff members to refrain from diagnosing PTSD because so many veterans were seeking government disability payments for the condition.

Veterans Affairs staffer 'counseled' for no-stress-disorder e-mail

SOURCE: Richard Sisk // New York Daily News

16 May 2008 // Veterans Affairs Secretary James Peake Thursday dressed down a staffer who advised blocking vets from receiving posttraumatic stress disorder treatment in order to save money.

"The employee has been counseled and is extremely apologetic," said Peake, a doctor and Silver Star veteran of the Vietnam War.

Senate Rules Committee to Hold Hearing on FEC Nominations

SOURCE: Matthew Murray // Roll Call

15 May 2008 // The Senate Rules and Administration Committee is confirming that it will take up three recent Federal Election Commission nominations, clearing the first major hurdle for the White House-backed plan to put the agency back in business by Memorial Day.

E-mail from VA worker says to avoid PTSD diagnosis

SOURCE: Kimberly Hefling // Associated Press

15 May 2008 // An internal e-mail written by a Veterans Affairs Department employee suggested avoiding a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder for veterans and instead considering a diagnosis that might result in a lower disability payment.

VA e-mail: Save money, do not diagnose PTSD

SOURCE: Kelly Kennedy // Army Times

15 May 2008 // Two veterans advocacy groups have asked for copies of all documents relating to the Veterans Affairs Department’s post-traumatic stress disorder policies after an e-mail surfaced asking VA doctors to keep costs down by giving diagnoses of adjustment disorder instead.

Senator Vitter — of the “Very Serious Sin” — Catches a Break

SOURCE: The Editorial Board // The New York Times Blog

15 May 2008 // As Congressman Vito Fossella, Republican of New York, faces demands he resign for the one-two punch of a DUI charge and revelations that he fathered a daughter from an extramarital affair, he can only envy the good luck of Senator David Vitter, his Republican colleague from Louisiana.

McCain vows unprecedented transparency

SOURCE: Klaus Marre // Klaus Marre

15 May 2008 // Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) promised Thursday that his administration “will set a new standard for transparency and accountability,” and vowed to keep Congress and the public apprised of his actions.

Judge Throws Out DNC Suit Over McCain Financing Case

SOURCE: Staff // National Journal's CongressDaily

15 May 2008 // A federal district court judge Wednesday threw out, for now, a Democratic National Committee lawsuit to force the FEC to investigate last year's withdrawal of a request by Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., for federal matching funds to support his presidential campaign.