Posted on 03/01/2007 4:58:44 PM PST by Libloather
Pelosi Delays Decision on Jefferson
By Susan Ferrechio
Published: March 1, 2007
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has postponed until at least next week action on a resolution that would place embattled Rep. William J. Jefferson on the Homeland Security Committee after Republicans said they would demand a roll call vote that could be potentially embarrassing for some Democrats.
Leadership aides confirmed Thursday that the vote has been tentatively scheduled for sometime next week.
Democrats acknowledged that their move to give the seat to the Louisiana Democrat, who is under federal investigation for bribery, would not happen via the simple and fast unanimous consent motion they had planned to offer.
Instead, every Democrat will now have to go on record on Jefferson’s appointment, which could be particularly difficult for some freshmen member who ran last November on an anti-corruption platform.
“It’s a tough vote for some of our guys,” said a Democratic aide familiar with the situation. “But in the end, we’re going to just have to do it.”
**SNIP**
Still, Democratic leaders believe the resolution giving Jefferson a seat on the Homeland panel will ultimately pass.
**SNIP**
But their argument was dulled somewhat Thursday by news that Jefferson had flown to his New Orleans district earlier in the day as a guest of President Bush aboard Air Force One. Bush is visiting the area assess the ongoing recovery efforts.
“It’s an airplane ride,” House Minority Leader John A. Boehner, R-Ohio, said. “It’s not dealing with sensitive security issues that the committee deals with.”
Jefferson said Wednesday he anticipates that he will be seated on the committee, despite the uproar over his appointment.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Thank god the GOP in Congress is getting some backbone.
I live in California... I warned ya all......... my state has become a mess under her leadership or lack of.....
America is in deep do-doo if this flies by the radar.. if this was a pubbie it would be blasted on the front page of every paper as part of the culture of corruption BS...
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