Today, Public Campaign Action Fund joins with other government watchdog groups to call upon the United States House of Representatives to not weaken or relax the House Ethics rules. When the House resumes its business today, several rules amendments will be offered which have the affect of changing House ethics rules for the worst. The House Committee on Standards and Official Conduct—or the House Ethics Committee—has long been afforded the opportunity to perform its work in a bi-partisan manner and without interference or undue influence from House leaders. The proposed rules changes now make it more difficult for the committee to adjudicate ethics complaints without undue influence and further deter other members from agreeing to sit on the Committee. Giving the current House leadership more control over ethical matters is letting the fox guard the hen house, and Americans of all political persuasions should oppose it. Public Campaign Action Fund strongly believes it is important to maintain the appearance of corruption standard as the grounds for House Ethics rules. This will insure that Members of Congress conduct themselves in a manner that avoids even the appearance of corruption. Also, outside groups should once again be allowed to file ethics complaints. Since ordinary citizens are allowed to elect their representatives, then they and their affiliated organizations should also be allowed to file complaints. In addition, Public Campaign Action Fund, which has been instrumental in bringing to public light the secretive DeLay Rule vote through our Daily DeLay blog, calls on the full House to reverse and overturn the DeLay Rule with a recorded vote.