Price, seven others face ethics investigation

By Bob Keefe

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

WASHINGTON -- Congressional ethics investigators are looking into whether votes by Rep. Tom Price and seven other lawmakers on financial industry reform legislation may have been improperly influenced by campaign contributors.

The House Office of Congressional Ethics has asked lobbyists to supply e-mails and other information regarding contributions to Price, a Roswell Republican, and other lawmakers from other states. The House members, all on the Financial Services or Ways and Means committees, include five Republicans who voted against the bill and three Democrats who voted for it, according to The Hill newspaper, which first reported the investigation. The ethics office does not comment on ongoing investigations.

The ethics office regularly opens investigations into lawmakers, but it also frequently closes them without taking action.

In a statement, Price denied any wrongdoing.

“The initiation of the preliminary review by the OCE to determine whether political contributions may have influenced my vote in favor of a smaller, more responsible, government is without any merit whatsoever,” Price said.

“Any and all individuals wishing to support my efforts for a more principled government do so with the understanding that my beliefs reflect the views of my constituents and my policy decisions are based on what’s in the best interests of my constituents and our country.”