News – Good Government Now

Dr. Murphy in The Hill: Congress Should Invoke Revised Inherent Contempt Procedure in DOJ Subpoena Standoff

September 21, 2018 Dr. William J. Murphy

The Hill, September 5, 2018
The U.S. House should invoke a revised version of its historical inherent contempt enforcement power to address the refusal of Department of Justice (DOJ) officials to comply with congressional subpoenas seeking information such as occurred with the Clinton email and Russia investigations. Inherent contempt refers to the centuries-old practice of the U.S. Congress and other parliamentary bodies of defending their institutional authority and punishing contempts by holding trials to convict and sanction individuals who obstruct the legislative process.

Experts to Debate Proposed Rule to Strengthen Civil Enforcement of House Subpoenas

September 17, 2018 Dr. William J. Murphy

Good Government Now and the Legislative Branch Capacity Working Group are hosting a panel discussion titled “Can the House Strengthen Civil Enforcement of Subpoenas to the Executive Branch through Rules Changes?” on Capitol Hill this Friday, September 21st, 2018, from 12-1:30pm in Rayburn 2226. A panel of congressional oversight experts will debate the merits of a proposal by Good Government Now Senior Fellow Michael L. Stern to strengthen enforcement of congressional subpoenas of executive branch officials through a change to House rules.

ARTICLE – Ben Carson can start fixing HUD today. Will he?

May 28, 2017 Dr. William J. Murphy

American Thinker, May 22, 2017
Yet another deadline in a congressional investigation into wrongdoing at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has passed without movement. HUD’s failure to provide all documents requested by Congress is disappointing because it stalls an ongoing investigation of improper salary payments to HUD officials who obstructed an inquiry into improprieties in HUD’s handling of housing fraud lawsuits against the city of St. Paul, Minn.

PRESS RELEASE – Good Government Now Launches Petition Urging HUD Compliance with Requests of Congressional Investigators in Illegal Payments Inquiry

May 22, 2017 Dr. William J. Murphy

Group also Credits Secretary Carson for Constructive Steps to Reverse Agency’s Previous Stonewalling

May 22, 2017 – Good Government Now has launched a petition urging the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to fully comply with all requests of congressional investigators who have been probing illegal payments made by HUD to two department officials.