January 27, 2003 - The Deleware News Journal: Moderate Republicans angry that RPCV Chris Shays denied chairmanship of the House Government Reform Committee

Peace Corps Online: Peace Corps News: Headlines: Peace Corps Headlines - 2003: 01 January 2003 Peace Corps Headlines: January 27, 2003 - The Deleware News Journal: Moderate Republicans angry that RPCV Chris Shays denied chairmanship of the House Government Reform Committee

By Admin1 (admin) on Sunday, February 02, 2003 - 2:10 am: Edit Post

Moderate Republicans angry that RPCV Chris Shays denied chairmanship of the House Government Reform Committee





Last month we reported that Fiji RPCV Chris Shays was next in line to preside over the House Government Reform Committee. Unfortunately the conservative Republicans who control the House of Representatives passed over Congressman Shays who was the best and most qualified man for the job. Read and comment on this story from The Deleware News Journal that Delaware Rep. Mike Castle is challenging Republican House leaders to stop what he sees as an intimidation campaign aimed at silencing GOP moderates. Among the targets was Rep. Chris Shays, R-Conn., who led successful efforts last year to pass a sweeping campaign finance reform bill, and was punished for championing that cause, Castle said. Shays, whose reform efforts were opposed by GOP leaders, was denied chairmanship of the House Government Reform Committee. Read the story at:

Castle takes on GOP leaders*

* This link was active on the date it was posted. PCOL is not responsible for broken links which may have changed.



Castle takes on GOP leaders

Conservatives trying to intimidate moderates in House, he says

By ERIN KELLY
Washington Bureau reporter
01/27/2003

Delaware Rep. Mike Castle is challenging Republican House leaders to stop what he sees as an intimidation campaign aimed at silencing GOP moderates.

Castle will gather with fellow centrists Tuesday to plan strategy for a meeting - within the next week or so - to confront House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., and new House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas. Castle is leading the charge as president of the Republican Main Street Partnership, a group of about 60 moderate House members, senators and governors.

Castle said he is particularly outraged that a political action committee run by DeLay contributed $50,000 to the Club for Growth, a conservative group that has tried to oust moderate Republican incumbents, including Rep. Wayne Gilchrest, R-Md. The group helped finance Ann D. Tamlyn to run against Gilchrest in the Republican primary last fall. Gilchrest won both the primary and the general election.

DeLay's contribution was given shortly before the general election to be used against Democrats and was not used against any incumbent Republican, DeLay spokesman Jonathan Grella said. But moderates say their leaders should not be giving money to any group that tries to oust GOP House members.

At stake is more than just the political clout of Castle and other moderates. The power struggle also is key to what direction the Republican-led Congress will take on such key issues as the economy, the environment, tax cuts and abortion. In general, moderates tend to be pro-environment, for abortion rights and favor increasing education funding and reducing the deficit rather than giving more tax cuts.

"Occasionally, you have to rise up and make your voice heard," Castle said. "I'm not a rubber stamp for leadership, and I don't want anybody else to be. If we're cowed by this and we start changing our votes to please leadership, then the intimidation has worked and we won't be casting the right votes for our districts."

House Republican leaders say publicly they have no intention of alienating moderates, whose defection on key votes could derail the leadership's agenda in a closely divided House. But, privately, many say moderates shouldn't expect to get ahead if they act like renegades.

"I think the moderates know that Denny Hastert will listen to their concerns, to try to make the Republicans one team," said John Feehrey, Hastert's spokesman. "He can't go over completely to either the moderate or conservative side. He has to listen to both."

Castle also is angered by GOP leaders' recent decision to pass over moderates next in line for powerful committee chairmanships that steer environmental policy and lead efforts to improve government.

Moderates say they were slighted when pro-environment Rep. Jim Saxton, R-N.J., was passed over in favor of conservative rancher and Rep. Richard Pombo, R-Calif., as chairman of the House Resources Committee. Pombo is an outspoken critic of environmental regulations and does not support many of the wetlands protection laws that affect Delaware and Maryland.

Also, Rep. Chris Shays, R-Conn., who led successful efforts last year to pass a sweeping campaign finance reform bill, was punished for championing that cause, Castle said. Shays, whose reform efforts were opposed by GOP leaders, was denied chairmanship of the House Government Reform Committee.

Castle said moderates want to ensure that GOP leaders don't indirectly help fund future challenges by the Club for Growth.

Club leaders most likely will target moderate Republican Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania and moderate Rep. Sherwood Boehlert of New York in the 2004 state primaries, said David Keating, the group's executive director. Castle is not on the list because Delaware is considered too liberal to elect a conservative Republican to replace him, Keating said.

"I have no illusion that leadership is going to throw up their hands and come around completely to our point of view," Castle said. "We understand that the majority of House Republicans are conservative. But I think they'll get the idea that having any connection with the Club for Growth is not a good idea. And, hopefully, we can stop some draconian bill from coming to the floor by making it clear we'll vote against it.

"Ultimately, votes are what they understand."

Reach Erin Kelly at (202) 906-8120 or ekelly@gns.gannett.com.
Read these other stories about RPCV Congressman Chris Shays



Read more about RPCV Congressman Chris Shays and his wife Betsi Shays who served with him on Fiji and currently works at the Peace Corps as Director of the Center for Field Assistance and Applied Research at:


Click on a link below for more stories on PCOL

Top Stories and Discussion on PCOL
Improvements needed in Volunteer Support ServicesWhere the Peace Corps Bill stands
Dodd's Amended Bill passes in SenateElection 2002:  RPCVs run for office
Peace Corps Volunteers Safe in Ivory CoastA Profile of Gaddi Vasquez
Sargent Shriver and the Politics of Life911:  A Different America
USA Freedom Corps - "paved with good intentions"PCV hostage rescued from terrorists


Top Stories and Discussion on PCOL
GAO reports on Volunteer Safety and SecurityPeace Corps out of Russia?
Help the New Peace Corps Bill pass CongressUSA Freedom Cops TIPS Program
Senior Staff Appointments at Peace Corps HeadquartersFor the Peace Corps Fallen
Senator Dodd holds Hearings on New Peace Corps LegislationThe Debate over the Peace Corps Fund
Why the Peace Corps needs a Fourth GoalThe Peace Corps 40th plus one
The Case for Peace Corps IndependenceThe Controversy over Lariam
The Peace Corps and Homeland SecurityDirector Vasquez meets with RPCVs
RPCV Congressmen support Peace Corps' autonomyPeace Corps Expansion:  The Numbers Game?
When should the Peace Corps return to Afghanistan?Peace Corps Cartoons



Some postings on Peace Corps Online are provided to the individual members of this group without permission of the copyright owner for the non-profit purposes of criticism, comment, education, scholarship, and research under the "Fair Use" provisions of U.S. Government copyright laws and they may not be distributed further without permission of the copyright owner. Peace Corps Online does not vouch for the accuracy of the content of the postings, which is the sole responsibility of the copyright holder.

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Fiji; Special Interests - Congress

PCOL2193
82

.


Add a Message


This is a public posting area. Enter your username and password if you have an account. Otherwise, enter your full name as your username and leave the password blank. Your e-mail address is optional.
Username:  
Password:
E-mail: