U.S. House of Representatives - Round 1 of the People vs. Rep. Tom DeLay goes to the People (represented by the Democrats).
In a 01-02-04 post we note:
"As alluded to in a 12-30-04 post, in the House, the two parties are poised for an opening-day fight over a package of rule changes that Democrats and outside watchdog groups say are intended to dilute the power of the House Ethics Committee after it admonished Mr. DeLay three times last year."
A headline in today's New York Times proclaims "House G.O.P. Voids Rule It Adopted Shielding Leader." The article notes:
Stung by criticism that they were lowering ethical standards, House Republicans on Monday night reversed a rule change that would have allowed a party leader to retain his position even if indicted.
Lawmakers and House officials said Republicans, meeting behind the closed doors of the House chamber, had acted at the request of the House majority leader, Representative Tom DeLay, who had been the intended beneficiary of the rule change.
In the past year, he has been admonished by the ethics panel three times: for his tactics in trying to persuade a colleague to support the Medicare drug bill, for appearing to link political donations to support for legislation and for involving a federal agency in a political matter in Texas.
The opponents were joined by the current chairman of the ethics panel, Representative Joel Hefley, Republican of Colorado, who may be replaced this week by the Republican leadership.
The ethics fight had threatened to overshadow the opening of Congress, a day that is traditionally set aside for ceremony and for welcoming the new members and their families.
Today's Washington Post makes sure the people did not have a complete victory:
Republicans voted to go ahead with another of their controversial ethics proposals and will ask the full House to approve a change that could curtail ethics committee investigations. Under the change, a Republican vote would be required before an inquiry can begin. The committee is evenly divided between the two parties, and under current rules a deadlock means an investigation begins automatically.
"As alluded to in a 12-30-04 post, in the House, the two parties are poised for an opening-day fight over a package of rule changes that Democrats and outside watchdog groups say are intended to dilute the power of the House Ethics Committee after it admonished Mr. DeLay three times last year."
A headline in today's New York Times proclaims "House G.O.P. Voids Rule It Adopted Shielding Leader." The article notes:
Stung by criticism that they were lowering ethical standards, House Republicans on Monday night reversed a rule change that would have allowed a party leader to retain his position even if indicted.
Lawmakers and House officials said Republicans, meeting behind the closed doors of the House chamber, had acted at the request of the House majority leader, Representative Tom DeLay, who had been the intended beneficiary of the rule change.
In the past year, he has been admonished by the ethics panel three times: for his tactics in trying to persuade a colleague to support the Medicare drug bill, for appearing to link political donations to support for legislation and for involving a federal agency in a political matter in Texas.
The opponents were joined by the current chairman of the ethics panel, Representative Joel Hefley, Republican of Colorado, who may be replaced this week by the Republican leadership.
The ethics fight had threatened to overshadow the opening of Congress, a day that is traditionally set aside for ceremony and for welcoming the new members and their families.
Today's Washington Post makes sure the people did not have a complete victory:
Republicans voted to go ahead with another of their controversial ethics proposals and will ask the full House to approve a change that could curtail ethics committee investigations. Under the change, a Republican vote would be required before an inquiry can begin. The committee is evenly divided between the two parties, and under current rules a deadlock means an investigation begins automatically.
posted by Sid Cottingham | 6:15 AM
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