UK Speaker Of The House Resigns

Order! Order!! Order!!!

I am always amazed when I see Parliament in session on CSPAN. I guess reform and expectations in government has risen around the world.

The powerful speaker of the British House of Commons resigned Tuesday because of a backlash over excessive expense claims by lawmakers, marking the first time in three centuries a speaker has been forced out.

Though Michael Martin has not been caught up in recent revelations about lawmakers expenses - reimbursements for chandeliers, moat cleaning and mortgage payments have outraged taxpayers - he was blamed for creating a climate in which such excesses were allowed.

The last speaker to be forced from his position was Sir John Trevor, who was found guilty of accepting a bribe in 1695.

Blamed for creating the climate? That would have wiped out the entire Bush Administration.

Source: HuffPo