The coal miner’s daughter from Kentucky who represents Niagara Falls and portions of Niagara, Erie and Orleans counties in Congress is taking on the “culture of corruption” that had become a hallmark of federal lawmakers and she’s not apologizing.

Rep. Louise Slaughter, D-Fairport, who began her political career as a Monroe County legislator, has become the second-most powerful woman in the House of Representatives after Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Her new position will allow her greater influence over federal funds sent to her district and issues that strike a chord at home.

In her position as chairwoman of the House Committee on Rules, she has been able to spearhead ethics reforms and will be in a position to inspect every bill before it goes to the floor for a vote.

Among those changes to the ethics rules, she has suggested an outside panel review ethics breaches in the House instead of the current committee comprised of sitting lawmakers. A committee is expected to report in March on the feasibility of an outside ethics panel, which would most likely be staffed by retired federal judges or those in similar positions.

The changes House Democrats have made so far include voting to recover billions in lost royalties from oil and gas companies. These changes have not yet been approved by the Senate.

Democrats have also increased the minimum wage, expanded taxpayer-funded embryonic stem cell research, directed the federal government to negotiated cheaper prescription drugs under the Medicare program and lowered interest rates on subsidized student loans.

When Republicans complained about the fact they were not permitted to make amendments to bills on the Democrats’ agenda for their first 100 hours in office, Slaughter made no apologies.

“We are working on an agenda that the minority would not or could not do, and we’re fulfilling our promise to the American people,” she said. “And all the whining you can do, all of it you can produce will not deter us from it.”

Those in government say she’s accessible and knows Niagara County issues. She picked up Niagara Falls after redistricting in 2002, in which she also picked up part of Buffalo, pieces of former Rep. John LaFalce’s district, which was eliminated.

The local Republican establishment has largely allowed their candidates to stage challenges to Slaughter with their own resources, and since her re-election to the House after her first term the incumbent’s margin of victory has not been less than 56 percent. Democrats enjoy a 53 percent enrollment advantage over Republicans and minor parties in the 28th District.

“I’m very impressed with her knowledge of the area,” said Ralph Aversa, a Republican who works in Democratic Mayor Vince Anello’s City Hall. “Anytime we’ve gone to her for help she’s been there for us.”

Slaughter, 77, may be one of Congress’ most senior members but she is no stranger to technology. A trained microbiologist who possesses a master’s degree in public health, last week she advocated for the Genetic Information Non-Discrimination Act and maintains a blog on the left-leaning Daily Kos Web site.

The genetic information act would prohibit employers and health insurers from discriminating against patients by based on genetic information.

She has also worked with the Canadian government on the pending requirement for passports at the U.S.-Canada border and is proposing a program that would allow drivers’ licenses to be used at the border in lieu of passports on a trial basis. The entire Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative has been pushed off until June 2009.

“They’re absolutely hard-nosed at DHS,” Slaughter said in an interview, referring to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

The pilot program would investigate whether enhanced drivers’ licenses would meet the department’s requirements before the passport requirement is put into place.

A supporter of the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, Slaughter announced that $27 million for a U.S. Army regional readiness center is included in President Bush’s proposed 2008 budget, which was announced Monday.

The funding was expected.

Part of the reforms Slaughter spearheaded included disclosure of what members are requesting which “earmarks” or spending on projects in a specific part of the county that is outside of a competitive grant process.

“We really have to ensure a judicious use of the taxpayers’ money,” she said.

Asked what the Democrats’ will do with the purse-strings for the Iraq war, Slaughter said they will leave the troops in good hands but they’ll be more vigilant at examining war contracts.

“There’s been no oversight on anything,” she said, adding that there is money in the pipeline for the troops. “We’re the people who kept the (Veterans’ Administration) in good shape.”

Contact Jill Terreri at 282-2311, Ext. 2250. The Associated Press contributed to this report.