Story highlights Moulton: Congress needs more ethics. We need to be reaching a higher standard

House Republicans are moving to gut Congress' independent ethics watchdog

(CNN) Democrats on the Hill -- including Rep. Seth Moulton of Massachusetts -- are speaking out against Republicans' push to limit the powers of a watchdog panel that polices the ethics of Congress, saying it's "absolutely ridiculous."

"They completely blindsided us. It's absolutely ridiculous," Moulton told CNN's Alisyn Camerota Tuesday on "New Day." "Is there any American out there who thinks Congress is too ethical?"

"Donald Trump and the Republicans said they're going to drain the swamp, and the very first thing they do is dismantle our outside ethics watchdog."

House Republicans voted 119-74 Monday in a closed-door meeting to gut Congress' independent watchdog. The full House will vote on the rules later Tuesday.

Virginia Rep. Bob Goodlatte's proposal would place the independent Office of Congressional Ethics under the control of lawmakers, which outraged Democrats and outside ethics organizations.

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