Pair of House Resignations Reignites GOP Ethics Woes
WASHINGTON - The resignations last week of two Republican House members from their sensitive committee assignments have thrust lingering legal and ethics issues back into the limelight, potentially complicating GOP efforts to retake Congress next year.On successive days, Wednesday and Thursday, Reps. John Doolittle, of California, and Rick Renzi, of Arizona, disclosed FBI raids, proclaiming their innocence but exposing their legal jeopardy.
The announcements were the most recent in a series of developments that have kept the focus on old ethical and legal clouds that helped chase the Republican Party from power on Capitol Hill.
Among those developments, Rep. Heather Wilson, R-N.M., faces a possible ethics investigation amid accusations that she pressured now-fired U.S. Attorney David Iglesias to indict New Mexico Democrats before last year’s fall elections.
Rep. Gary Miller, R-Calif., under investigation by the FBI for a series of land deals, is facing Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) ads alleging he lied about a land sale that he declined to pay taxes on. Footage shows Miller repeatedly pleading with Monrovia, Calif., officials to buy 165 acres of his property. Miller made more than $10 million off the 2002 sale, but he sheltered the profits from capital-gains taxes by claiming the sale was forced under threat of eminent domain.
Rep. Jerry Lewis, R-Calif., faces FBI scrutiny of his work as House Appropriations Committee chairman, and his campaign filings this month showed he has racked up $892,951.69 since July in legal fees.
And for the first time, Rep. Tim Murphy, R-Pa., reported significant legal fees - $15,620.60 - in his campaign filing this month, as he tries to stave off accusations that he used taxpayer-funded congressional staff members and resources to do political work.
“Everybody’s kind of a little bit numb,” said Rep. Jack Kingston, R-Ga. “There’s this ‘what else can happen now?’ feeling going around here.”
Doolittle had been trying to retool his battered image when he disclosed that the FBI had raided his family’s Northern Virginia home. He and his wife have been tied to convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff, and he has admitted obtaining funds for a defense contractor linked to the bribery conviction of then-Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham, R-Calif.
Under pressure from GOP leaders, Doolittle quickly gave up his coveted seat on the House Appropriations Committee while his lawyers said he had done nothing wrong.
Renzi notified House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, that federal investigators had raided the offices of Renzi’s wife’s business, Patriot Insurance Agency, in Sonoita, Ariz. The search was part of an investigation into Renzi-drafted land-swap legislation that would have enriched a political benefactor. Renzi stepped down from his seat on the House Intelligence Committee “to avoid any unnecessary distractions on the panel and its critical work,” Boehner said.
“I view these actions as the first step in bringing out the truth,” Renzi said.
Democrats also have issues. An aide in the New Orleans office of Rep. William Jefferson, of Louisiana, was subpoenaed last week to testify before the grand jury investigating corruption and bribery allegations. Earlier this year, Rep. Alan Mollohan, D-W.Va., who chairs the House Appropriations subcommittee that funds the Commerce and Justice departments, was forced to recuse himself from law-enforcement funding matters because he is under FBI investigation.
Ethics troubles loomed large last year in the Democrats’ sweep of Congress. Republicans lost seats in eight states where ethical lapses were key issues.
And Democrats will use the new ethics charges to remind voters why they turned the GOP out, said Rep. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., the DCCC chairman.
“It’s all a stark reminder to voters about why they don’t want to turn power back to a Republican Congress that betrayed the public and used their majority for personal financial gain and to reward special interests,” he said.
Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), was less troubled. The Democrats’ theme of “a culture of corruption” is unlikely to break through to voters in a presidential election year with so much at stake, he said. And cases coming into focus in early 2007 will likely be resolved by fall 2008.
“There’s a long time between now and the election,” he said.
But Cole conceded ethics could be a factor in a few individual races. And the GOP already needs 17 seats to recapture the House.
Copyright © 2007 The Seattle Times Company
Why in the world are these people already talking about Congress going back to the Repubicans? Most Americans are stupid, but even I can’t believe they are that dim-witted to vote these criminals back into power!
Most Americans are indeed quite stupid, and we have nobody to blame but ourselves. We allowed ourselves to melt into a blob of complacent stupidity behind the “nuclear shield,” convinced that our hegemony over the world was somehow permanent and we no longer had to work hard to be a success.
But, more to the point, politics is a team sport. Even in a football game where one team is being completely skunked and shut out, the cheerleaders for that team don’t quit cheering.
Here’s the real question: Can the Democrats, should they increase and solidify their majorities in both houses, behave ethically and not be corrupted by power? Probably not. Sadly, self-aggrandizement appears to be endemic to the political system, and its decline.
Politics is a team sport, but now it’s also a business. I personally don’t believe that the founding fathers intended to create a government of representatives who would make a career of it. I like Senator Byrd a great deal, but I feel that change is needed to restore some sensibility to our government and you’re not going to get real change with somebody who’s held a senate seat for fifty years, Republican or Democrat.
In a phrase, it makes no sense to me that in order to be elected to anything, you have to be rich. Most rich people I know aren’t smarter or better than I am. They’re just rich. Why have they inherited the right to rule and judge me?
As far as the ‘Democratic Party’ goes, there is very little in what they bring to the table. There are a few individual democrats that are speaking out but when push comes to shove, they will be pushed under and not be a part of the national discussion (and that is where it matters).
If we can’t change the dominant culture of politics (which relies on war and oppression), all impacts of these comments are as effective as a cream pie thrown in the face of the system. Might momentarily slow them down, but doesn’t change anything.
On the other hand, change has to start someplace, and it usually starts at the bottom. Every good thing that happened in America (40 hour work week, racial equality, public schools, environmental reform etc) started with a small group of people without the support of mainstream America (neighter the Government, Mainstream media, or majority of people).
Something has to change. This may be the start but is not enough yet.
peace
www.NotOneMore.US - Take the Pledge for Peace
It’s been statistically proven that money spent on a campaign brings results. What is the $ spent on? TV ads. Years back Harper’s did a story (can anyone remember who wrote this?) explaining WHY it was imperative NOT to deregulate the FCC. That was on Clinton’s “Republican lite” watch. The thinker argued, rightfully, that the airwaves which present a whole new digital frontier, BELONG to the people, thus to merely GIVE them away (via licenses) to the pre-existing broadcast behemoths was inane. He felt that a percentage of time ought be figured into the deal, where say major broadcasters RETURN TO THE PUBLIC say 10% of air time… this then, could be used by viable political candidates to SHARE their policies. Right now it’s all pre-fab, pre-select “choices,” and “sound byte” theater. As others have pointed out, our shoddy media would rather talk about Oj or Nichole Simpson or the latest celebrity murder, rather than what the leadership is up to, or worse yet, analyze the state of the nation. UNLESS and UNTIL the public is informed, and unfortunately, sites as worthy as this one only reach a fragment… many voters are sheep, who might as well be voting for prom king and queen. It is a travesty of genuine representative democracy, which of course, does also require something of its citizens. But if the means to GAIN info is limited (a lot of people work 2 jobs and can’t fiscally keep up), then that, too, is a pox on both houses. I’d like to see philanthropists put $ towards cloning Ralph Nader.
6 of 1 1/2 dozen of the other……frick/frack…..impeach em all…we the people do actually have this right to impeach or fire em…contrary to what the frick/frack wanna tell us….they work for us…..not for the $$$$$$……
and the $$$$ would love to make us their slaves….in case you haven’t noticed…electric, communications, energy…..
to the victor goes the spoils, guess who’s winnin world…wake to h$$$ up!!!!!!1
“Rep. Jerry Lewis, R-Calif., faces FBI scrutiny of his work as House Appropriations Committee chairman, and his campaign filings this month showed he has racked up $892,951.69 since July in legal fees.”
Oh, well, with a name like Jerry Lewis, I have no doubt that he can maintain his sense of humor while his campaign money dwindles.
“Everybody’s kind of a little bit numb,” said Rep. Jack Kingston, R-Ga. “There’s this ‘what else can happen now?’ feeling going around here.”
In light of all the corruption surfacing, one never knows, Mr. Kingston. Frankly, I hope all the corrupt misfits from both parties get lynched.
together gail… the one thing they should come together on …as a counter balance on the other end of the traitor rope they are tryng to hang on us….fire em all….
Doolittle?–what a great name for an ethically challenged anything.
Jerry Lewis?–wasn’t he that screw-ball who worked with Dean Martin in the movies?
There is humor even in tragedy!
The political/government situation is a symptom of the cultural malaise. But the awakening of the public is a very good sign. Those who are already awake have to stay awake and take action that tells their elected reps that they ARE awake.
In other countries the people actually take themselves into the streets and they get results. That doesn’t seem to be the way in the US. So for those who know what’s right, the wheels of this nation turn very slowly.
The important thing is that we do not allow the government to do actions that are not reversible. War and unjust death are not reversible. Permitting the cultivation of genetically engineered plants is certainly not reversible. Environmental degradation is turning out not to be very easily reversible, though nature has great self-correcting abilities—or at least we hope that’s still the case.
And it is a matter of examing our own lives, too, and avoiding irreversible actions which work against the forces of life and nature.
It is absolutely true that we get the government we deserve. Any society has at its basis a certain level of knowledge in all fields of life, whether it be agriculture, medicine, education, spirituality, and so forth. If that knowledge is deep enough, profound enough that many people spontaneously live within a good connection with life and nature, then government will follow.
We have a certain level of technological knowledge which is not balanced by a sufficient knowledge of the fundamental laws of nature, those which govern the entire creation and life everywhere. The result has been the implementation of technologies which create some benefit at great cost. New knowledge must supplant what exists.
www.uspeacegovernment.org
All these corupted politicians are still running around Washington in power and there isn’t enough public outcry. These politicians should have been kicked out of office by now but they haven’t gotten the attention from the corporate media they deserve. If those other Americans continue to give American Idol and trivial things like the hair style they wear more attention, this country is going to become a degenerate pile of crap.
Rep. Jack Kingston, R-Ga. said: “There’s this ‘what else can happen now?’ feeling going around here.” Yes indeed, what else could happen? One never knows where these seemingly seperate incidents have a common thread, and once that thread is found and pulled on, a lot could happen.
We know, or at least have thought, that the Bush administration is really backed into a corner on a number of important issues. His words of support for whomever is under investigation become more meaningless with each new case of corruption revealed. Rove’s brain must really be spinning!
I don’t care if it’s a Democrat or a Republican that is under investigation. What’s importamt is that the law still means something in the USA; but even the Justice System is under attack.
If I or almost anyone who posts here on this site well knows that if one of us had done any of these crimes or alleged crimes, we would be looking at some serious jail time. And even though these people are sent to what we inmates call “Club Feds,” they would still have to suffer somewhat for their crimes.
This can’t go on much longer. If we aren’t in fact and deed already a Fascist state, then we are definitely well on our way. We need change so bad it’s like a diaper has been left unchanged for six years. Bush needs his diaper changed. Maybe that’s why it’s off the table because it’s such a distasteful thing to have to do. But someone has to do it. And the nannies in charge of the Executive Branch happen to be the Houses of Congress. I can’t imagine the stench of such a cleaning. But if we don’t do it now, when are we ever going to do it?
hybridoma2001 April 23rd, 2007 5:55 am
“We need change so bad it’s like a diaper has been left unchanged for six years…… I can’t imagine the stench of such a cleaning. But if we don’t do it now, when are we ever going to do it?”
hybridoma: Great analogy!
Corruption runs deep where money has replaced the rule of law. It is impossible to imagine that any significant house-cleaning will take place on Captiol Hill while Republicans and Democrats alike insist on policing their own Ethics. It’s the same old story of the fox guarding the hen house.
Democrats might prevent the diaper from overflowing, but it’s not going to be changed any time soon.
The GOP was out in the ‘wilderness’ for decades. It will take a similar amount of time for the Dems to clean their own house. We can already see the “business as usual” approach to governing since November.
Don’t put your faith in either Party - they both get their money from the same places. When you hear the phrase “my colleague from across the aisle…” remember that the aisle is actually the blood soaked trough of money from which both parties feed. We will also be busy for the next 3-4 decades sorting out the mess this administration has created in just 6-7 short years now. I said back in 1980 when Reagan and Bush held their first coup, that not until Americans get to really feel trickle down economics in their wallets that things will start to change. Here we are, the stock market is booming and unemployment is rising… wonder why? Hmmmmmmm….