Congressional Check Bouncers

The House bank scandal is destined to have much wider repercussions than that of the savings-and-loan scandal. Republicans are hoping to benefit by blaming the Democrats for sinning the most, but their lesser sin might be blamed simply on their being the minority party, and therefore having less opportunity to sin.

While no law was broken by anyone, ethics abuse is clear, and the suspicion in the public’s mind is that ethics abuse would not stop here. Should any organization that cannot run it own private bank be trusted to manage so large a part of the nation’s wealth, including the power of the purse?

We wonder at the very name, House of Representatives; what or whom does it really represent? Its other name, the lower house, has taken on added meaning. “Disorderly house” might be more appropriate.

CONRAD THOMAS, Ventura