Warning is issued, however, after Vitter threatens to block a pay raise for Interior Secretary Ken Salazar
Washington -- The Senate Ethics Committee has dismissed a complaint that Sen. David Vitter, R-La., violated the federal bribery statute last May when he threatened to block a pay raise for Interior Secretary Ken Salazar if his department didn't issue permits for new deepwater exploratory wells at a pre-moratorium rate of six per month. Vitter said Friday that he is glad that he succeeded in denying Salazar a nearly $20,000 pay increase, and would continue to place a hold on any future raise.
Ken Salazar But the Ethics Committee informed Vitter that it is sending a letter to every senator advising them that in the future, that same behavior would be frowned upon.
"By this letter, Senators are hereby advised that, from and after the date of this letter, tying an existing Secretary's personal salary to his or her performance of a specific official action will be viewed by the Committee as an improper conduct reflecting discreditably on the Senate," reads the letter signed by Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., chairwoman of the Ethics Committee, and Sen. Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., the vice chairman.
"So now senators need guidance to know extortion and bribery violate Senate rules?" said Melanie Sloan, executive director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, which brought the complaint. "If the Ethics Committee hasn't issued specific advance guidance senators can't be held accountable for outrageous conduct?"
It was CREW that in 2007 filed a complaint against Vitter, seeking an investigation into whether he was guilty of soliciting for prostitution. The Ethics Committee declined to act because the conduct in question preceded his Senate service, but he was warned that if new allegations came to light, the matter could be reopened.
What was at issue in this case was a pay raise for all Cabinet secretaries that Salazar could not accept when he assumed the job at the outset of the Obama administration because he had voted on it as a senator. However, in January, when his Senate term would have ended, he became eligible for the higher pay, equal to other Cabinet secretaries. But it still required congressional approval and that's when Vitter stepped in and placed his hold.
"I'm glad that I killed Ken Salazar's salary increase," Vitter said. "He has completely failed us on energy policy. And I'll absolutely place a hold on any raise for him in the future."
But, based on their letter to Vitter, the Ethics Committee might have a problem with that.
As they wrote, "While Senators have long used holds on nominations to help persuade administrations to carry out or change policies, tying an incumbent Secretary's personal salary directly to his or her performance of a specific official act is different, places a Secretary in a precarious and potentially untenable position, and undermines a basic principle of government service."
Jonathan Tilove can be reached at jtilove@timespicayune.com or 202.450.1404.