BOREN VOTES FOR ETHICS REFORM, FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Congressman Dan Boren was sworn in on Thursday for a second term in the U.S. House of Representatives. Just hours after the 110th Congress convened, legislation was passed to significantly strengthen House ethics rules.

"Corruption and scandal over the past year have distracted Congress from addressing the real issues facing our nation," Boren said. "The ethics reforms we have passed hold members of the House to the high standard voters expect, and significantly curb the influence of special interests."

The House approved internal rules that ban members from accepting gifts or travel from lobbyists, prohibit the use of corporate jets and impose mandatory ethics training for congressional staff. Rules were also passed that pave the way for a return to civility and bipartisanship in the House, ensuring the minority party is not shut out of the process.

"The only way we are going to accomplish anything of significance is through bipartisanship," Boren said. "The challenges facing our state and nation are not partisan issues, and it will take members of both parties to address them."

The House also took a major step toward reigning in federal spending and addressing the deficit by adopting pay-as-you-go rules. PAY-GO requires that any new spending on entitlement programs or tax cuts be offset with cuts from other programs.

"If the government is going to buy something, Congress has to figure out how to pay for it," Boren said. "It's time the government be held to the same standard as every American family."

As a member of the Blue Dog Coalition, a group of 44 conservative Democrats in Congress, Boren has been pushing for the implementation of PAY-GO for two years.

"The passage of PAY-GO is a significant victory for the Blue Dogs and every American taxpayer," Boren said.