Walden pleased by House GOP reversal on ethics panel

Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., said Tuesday he was pleased his GOP colleagues quickly reversed course on a controversial move he’d opposed, to gut an independent ethics panel.

“When the ethics changes were offered yesterday, Greg spoke out against them and voted against them,” Walden spokesman Andrew Malcolm told NewsChannel 21. “He was pleased that the proposal was dropped today. The ethics process should be reformed, and it should be done in an open and bipartisan way.”

On other matters, Walden predicted swift action on growing jobs, fixing health care and doing away with excessive federal regulations as the new session of Congress convened Tuesday.

“I’m excited about the new session of Congress kicking-off today,” Walden said in a video message. “I’ll take over as Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, where we will address the real issues that hold back job growth and wage growth in America, and reform how our health care is delivered, so that it is patient-centered and doctor-centered.

“And then we are going to take on these excessive and unnecessary rules and regulations as well,” the congressman said. “I think it is a new chapter in American history. We’re looking forward to the inauguration coming up and a lot of work getting done this year.”

In December, Walden was selected to chair the House Energy and Commerce Committee. As Chairman, Walden will oversee a broad legislative portfolio that includes health care, energy policy, telecommunications, consumer protection, food and drug safety, environmental quality, and interstate and foreign commerce. Walden is the first Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman from the Pacific Northwest.