We missed this one yesterday, but an editorial in the New York Times called for Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick to be ashamed, basically. It also called for the swearing-in fundraiser to be investigated by the House’s Office of Congressional Ethics.

Here’s a snippet (emphases added). Click here to read the entire editorial.

Work has barely begun and the new Congress is already stirring fresh business for the House’s Office of Congressional Ethics. The incident should be thoroughly investigated and referred to the House ethics committee. It should be an early and clear warning to members that fund-raising, as 24/7 as it is in Washington, must not take precedence over lawmaking, even though too many members behave otherwise.

The finally sworn-in congressmen apologized to the House, with Mr. Fitzpatrick’s office maintaining there was no fund-raiser, only a transportation fee of $30 per head for the bus ride from home. But his local newspaper, The Morning Call of Allentown, reported that the invitation to “Mike Fitzpatrick’s Swearing In Celebration” solicited contributions of $30, $60, $120 and above. It also included a standard form for making contributions to the overeager congressman.