Democrats vow to restore political integrity
POSTED: 11:07 a.m. EST, December 30, 2006
Story Highlights
• Rep.-elect Jerry McNerney: Democrats must "earn the public trust"
• Says party will ban gifts from lobbyists, lobbyist-paid travel, corporate jet use
• Will work to reduce foreign oil dependence; create renewable energy, biofuels
WASHINGTON (AP) -- A California Democrat newly elected to Congress promised Saturday that his party will restore integrity and civility to the House when it assumes control in January.
"In this election, the American people clearly called for change," Rep.-elect Jerry McNerney said in the Democrats' weekly radio address. "As our first responsibility in fulfilling the mandate of this critical election, House Democrats will restore integrity and civility in Washington in order to earn the public trust."
The effort to build that trust will include bans on gifts from lobbyists, lobbyist-funded travel and use of corporate jets, McNerney said.
The incoming congressman also promised "a new direction in Iraq" and said Democrats would resist any plan to deploy more U.S. troops there. "The Iraqis need to understand that the responsibility for the future of that country is theirs," he said.
McNerney also said Democrats would work to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil "while creating jobs, prosperity and a healthy environment with a new energy technology, including renewable energy and biofuels."
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http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/12/30/dems.radio.ap/index.html?section=cnn_latest