On Monday, the U.S. House of Representatives attempted to make some alarming changes.

Representatives voted 119-74 in a closed-door meeting to place the independent Office of Congressional Ethics under the House Ethics Committee.

According to a report from The Associated Press, the OCE was formed to “investigate allegations of misconduct by lawmakers … after several bribery and corruption scandals sent members to prison.” The OCE answers and investigates complaints from the public.

Fortunately, under pressure from President-elect Donald Trump, the House dropped this legislation. It’s a good thing, too, because a decision of this sort could have meant that an entity dedicated to snuffing out corruption would work under the very people it is charged to investigate. It would have opened the door to the possibility of more corruption.

These actions may have occurred on a national scale about 300 miles away, but the situation is applicable right here at home.

No matter what level of government, corruption should have no place. The same goes for legislation that creates the possibility for corruption. Monday’s vote was simply a failed attempt for government officials to place another layer of red tape between them and the public.

As a media source, the Daily News is no stranger to this same red tape, whether it is restricted, yet supposedly public records, or the reluctance of local officials to agree to interviews.

Constituents should expect more out of their representatives. There is no acceptable reason to keep oneself away from voters. It is the duty of an elected official to serve the people — not a personal agenda, a political party or Capitol cronies in suits.

While it is a long shot to control what happens in Washington, D.C., it is not such a long shot to make sure the same things do not happen in Washington, N.C.

No matter how it is put in place, the red tape has to go.