Posted on 04/15/2005 2:56:32 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
Democrats said yesterday that they will continue to block the House ethics committee from meeting — leaving Majority Leader Tom DeLay under a cloud of ethics accusations — because of their opposition to new ethics panel rules passed by the full House.
They insisted, however, that their stalling was not aimed at Mr. DeLay, who charged Wednesday that the Democrats' action was a partisan move also intended to protect a Democratic congressman involved in the illegal taping of a Republican member's cell-phone conversation.
..."This is the Democrats' agenda," Mr. DeLay said Wednesday. "They don't have an agenda."
Mr. Mollohan said their refusal to convene the committee stems entirely from the Republican insistence on changing rules on the committee's operation.
.... Among the rules changes the House approved Jan. 4 — in a 220-195 vote, with no Democrats in favor of the change — two have been most contentious.
The first rule places a limit on the amount of time the committee may consider an ethics case before it is summarily dismissed. Mr. DeLay said that under the old rules, Democrats would trap an accused Republican member in a "limbo" for an unlimited period before exonerating him. Mr. Mollohan said those limits damage any hopes of a thorough investigation.
The second contentious rule gives a member — and witnesses — greater latitude in choosing an attorney. Mr. DeLay said that is a basic matter of due process. Mr. Mollohan said it will allow the accused and witnesses to hire the same lawyer, which would allow for greater collaboration among subjects of an investigation.
A spokesman for House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert said the new rules were crucial to bringing bipartisanship to the ethics committee.
(Excerpt) Read more at washtimes.com ...
Examples like that are why this story will end with a whimper shortly. Heh heh heh.
That would be "shooting blanks"... oddly appropriate, seems to me. Except that the democrats do have the MSM as their shooting range echo chamber.
You know, this really gets me thinking. Rats block Ethics?
Rats block ethics? Rats BLOCK ETHICS? But of course!You nailed it, AWM!!
'RATS are, for all practical purposes, saying:
(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)
Excellent idea!
It really is a "joke" anyway.
Why can't the House draft a bill that says if one party refuses to assemble and boycotts established committees, the rules will be made by majority vote of the attendees.... Period, end of story! </ dose of own medicine>
The Vermont paper that reported on Bernie Saunders wife/daughter, wrote today that there are at least four dozen other congress men who have family on the payroll.
Hope they print every single name and follow up with every family member who works for a lobbying group.
Thank you so much for featuring Barney Frank. He should be the rats' poster boy. FReegards....
I'm glad the rats' war against ethics is now out in the open. Hehehe!
haha! :)
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