Tag: integrity

An overwhelming majority of Australians have lost trust in federal politics and want a strong, well-resourced anti-corruption commission, new polling shows. Integrity experts and Transparency International Australia will on Monday launch a sustained push on the major parties to make substantial commitments to boosting integrity in the lead-up to next month’s election, including the establishment of a properly empowered federal integrity commission, reforms to donations and lobbying, and better protections for whistleblowers. Their push coincides with polling released by the Australia Institute showing trust in Australia’s federal parliament is low and declining further. Coalition's plan for anti-corruption body a 'sham' set up to protect MPs, former judge says Read more Respondents strongly supported (76%) the commission having the power to hold public hearings – something which the Coalition has ruled out in its proposal. I’ve never before known 34 judges to agree to a letter such as this.” The Coalition used its recent budget to give $104.5m in funding over the forward estimates for an integrity commission – though additional money will also be given to existing integrity bodies to enhance their functions. Australia's global corruption ranking sparks urgent calls for federal integrity body Read more Labor’s model would give the anti-corruption commission the powers of a royal commission, including an ability to hold public hearings where it is deemed in the public interest. Top of the list was a “strong, properly resourced national integrity commission”, with the power to hold public hearings, a wide jurisdiction and proper funding. It also wants greater control on political donations by introducing real-time donation and campaign expenditure disclosures, and lowering the threshold amount requiring public declaration. Transparency International also wants to see a properly resourced whistleblower protection authority. Brown was critical of the low level of resourcing announced by Labor and its decision to employ the five staff through the office of the commonwealth ombudsman.

U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz introduced new legislation today, dubbed the Scientific Integrity Act, to protect public scientific research and reports from the influence of political and special interests. Schatz, along with U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.), said this longstanding concern has “taken on newfound urgency under President Trump.” “These are challenging and unprecedented times for science,” said Schatz in a news release. “And while it’s not the first time it has been under attack, this time feels worse. That’s why we need to answer the call of our times and stand up for science. It would make data and findings off-limits for political appointees and managers, and make sure scientists follow careful processes for review.” The Scientific Integrity Act would establish uniform standards for policies at U.S. agencies meant to prevent public research and findings from being distorted or shelved for political reasons. Public scientists would be held to high standards, but also be guaranteed rights and protections. In its first two years, he said the Trump administration has prohibited the Centers for Disease Control staff from using the words “evidence-based” and “science-based” in budget documents, and scrapped an EPA-recommended ban on chlorpyrifos, a pesticide proven to impair brain development in young children. “Our economy, our health and safety, and our environment all depend on independent federal scientific research and fully informed, science-based policies,” said Andrew Rosenberg, director of the Center for Science and Democracy at the Union of Concerned Scientists, in a statement. “The Scientific Integrity Act would protect scientists from political interference in their scientific work, and make sure that they can carry out their research and share it without fear of retaliation. Congress should pass the Scientific Integrity Act so that all presidential administrations can be held to that strong standard.”

Clayton Jump's first campaign ad is a wonder of politics, an honest, direct talk with the voters of Colobraska. Getting a "Jump" on the competition, this isn't for 2018, but 2020, giving Clayton a chance to lay our his vision…

Assistant Professor of Law at George Mason University and friend of Brett Kavanaugh Jennifer Mascott says that in her experience he’s always acted with character and integrity. She says the allegations are inconsistent with what she knows. » Subscribe to…