November 17, 2004: Headlines: COS - Fiji: Politicis: Congress: Macon Daily: Rep. Christopher Shays was one of the few Republicans to openly oppose the rules change to shield Tom DeLay if indicted
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November 17, 2004: Headlines: COS - Fiji: Politicis: Congress: Macon Daily: Rep. Christopher Shays was one of the few Republicans to openly oppose the rules change to shield Tom DeLay if indicted
Rep. Christopher Shays was one of the few Republicans to openly oppose the rules change to shield Tom DeLay if indicted
Rep. Christopher Shays was one of the few Republicans to openly oppose the rules change to shield Tom DeLay if indicted
Republicans Change Rule to Shield DeLay if Indicted
By: Joanne Kenen
Wed Nov 17, 2004 05:36 PM ET
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - House Republicans voted on Wednesday to change their own rules to allow their powerful Majority Leader Tom DeLay to keep his post even if he is indicted in connection with illegal fund-raising activities.
In a closed-door session, House Republicans approved the rule change in a voice vote to allow a leader or chairman to keep his post after an indictment. The leadership would then make recommendations, based on whether the indictment was deemed legitimate or politically-motivated.
Three of DeLay's associates were indicted by a Texas grand jury in September in connection with illegal fund-raising and the prosecutor has said the investigation is not yet finished.
The controversy surrounding DeLay, a Texas Republican, does not seem to have dented his considerable power.
He is credited with helping Republicans increase their majority in the House in this month's elections and many Republican lawmakers feel indebted to him for his fund-raising prowess.
DeLay, who has been admonished by the House Ethics Committee three times this year, told reporters he was "not at all" worried about an indictment.
He said the change in party rules was necessary to protect Republicans against the Democrats' "politics of personal destruction."
Rep. Henry Bonilla, a fellow Texas Republican who initiated the change, said it was essential because, "We are trying to protect members of our leadership from any crackpot district attorney in any state of the nation from taking on a political agenda."
Democrats complained that Republicans were lowering the ethical bar for leadership.
"Not only did the House Republicans vote to re-elect the most ethically challenged member of Congress in modern history to lead them ... now, in an act of unprecedented shamelessness, the Republicans have apparently changed their own rules to allow Mr. DeLay to be indicted for a felony and still keep his job as Majority Leader," said outgoing Rep. Chris Bell, a Democrat who lost his seat because of Texas redistricting pushed by DeLay.
"That is a truly pathetic standard of leadership," added Bell, who brought a House ethics complaint against DeLay.
The new rule does, however, require anyone convicted of a felony to immediately relinquish a leadership position.
Rep. Trent Franks, an Arizona Republican, said it was right to distinguish between an indictment and a conviction.
"Someone should not be punished on the basis of an indictment," Franks said.
The vote changes a decade-old rule passed when Republicans wanted to draw attention to the questionable ethics of such powerful Democrats as former Illinois Rep. Dan Rostenkowski, who eventually pleaded guilty to mail fraud and was sentenced to prison.
Connecticut Rep. Christopher Shays, one of the few Republicans to openly oppose the rule change, said it was a return to "business as usual."
"If you are a cop, a judge, a prosecutor, and you are indicted, you step down," he said, adding that Congress should follow similar standards.
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Story Source: Macon Daily
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