Soxy Posted November 17, 2004 Share Posted November 17, 2004 DeLay might keep post even after indictment. GOP OKs New Party Rules in Light of DeLay By LARRY MARGASAK, Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON - House Republicans approved a party rules change Wednesday that could allow Majority leader Tom DeLay to retain his leadership post if he is indicted by a Texas grand jury on state political corruption charges. By a voice vote, and with a handful of lawmakers voicing opposition, the House Republican Conference decided that a party committee of several dozen members would review any felony indictment of a party leader and recommend at that time whether the leader should step aside. The current party rule in this area requires House Republican leaders and the heads of the various committees to relinquish their positions if indicted for a crime that could bring a prison term of at least two years. It makes no distinction between a federal and state indictment. Three of DeLay's political associates already have been indicted by that Texas grand jury. Rep. Henry Bonilla (news, bio, voting record), R-Texas, said that under the change embraced Wednesday, the House Republican Steering Committee would have 30 legislative days to review a felony indictment and recommend to all House Republicans whether a lawmaker who is charged could remain as a committee chairman or leader. There is no indication that DeLay, a 57-year-old Texan, will be indicted in connection with a Travis County, Texas, campaign finance investigation. But the majority leader has called the probe a partisan attack on him. Bonilla said there was no vote count taken in the closed meeting but said the proposal passed overwhelmingly. "This takes the power away from any partisan crackpot district attorney who may want to indict" party leaders and make a name for himself, Bonilla said. Lawmakers said that DeLay did not publicly push for the change and did not participate in the closed-door debate which lasted several hours. Bonilla said the leader would not have to step aside while fellow party members considered whether an indictment was frivolous. The grand jury is probing alleged irregularities in 2002 state legislative races. Republican victories in those contests enabled DeLay ultimately to win support for a congressional redistricting plan that resulted in the GOP's gain of five House seats in Texas in this month's elections. House Democrats have a step-aside provision that applies to both federal and state proceedings similar to the current Republican rule, and their leader, Rep. Nancy Pelosi (news, bio, voting record) of California, was highly critical of the GOP proposal. "If they make this rules change, Republicans will confirm yet again that they simply do not care if their leaders are ethical. If Republicans believe that an indicted member should be allowed to hold a top leadership position in the House of Representatives, their arrogance is astonishing," Pelosi said. In September, the grand jury indicted three political operatives associated with DeLay and eight companies, alleging campaign finance violations related to corporate money spent in the 2002 legislative races. The corporate donations were made to Texans for a Republican Majority, a political action committee created with help from DeLay. DeLay said he was not questioned or subpoenaed as part of the investigation, led by retiring prosecutor Ronnie Earle. The majority leader said after the indictments, "This has been a dragged-out 500-day investigation, and you do the political math. This is no different than other kinds of partisan attacks that have been leveled against me that are dropped after elections." In October, the House ethics committee rebuked DeLay for appearing to link political donations to a legislative favor and improperly persuading U.S. aviation authorities to intervene in the Texas redistricting dispute. :headshake :headshake :headshake Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted November 17, 2004 Share Posted November 17, 2004 That is bulls***. Why should the rules for Delay be any different? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texsox Posted November 17, 2004 Share Posted November 17, 2004 That is bulls***. Why should the rules for Delay be any different? This is all the liberal media making s*** up. Trust the GOP, they will never let you down. All GOPerbots and Texans are honest as the day is long. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted November 17, 2004 Share Posted November 17, 2004 This is all the liberal media making s*** up. Trust the GOP, they will never let you down. All GOPerbots and Texans are honest as the day is long. That joke isn't funny anymore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texsox Posted November 17, 2004 Share Posted November 17, 2004 The majority leader said after the indictments, "This has been a dragged-out 500-day investigation, and you do the political math. This is no different than other kinds of partisan attacks that have been leveled against me that are dropped after elections." He's right. They have taken him on over and over again and nothing ever sticks. They should just head to Canada with the rest of the Dems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texsox Posted November 17, 2004 Share Posted November 17, 2004 That joke isn't funny anymore. Either are all the f***ing liberal media bulls*** blasting posts by others. But of course no one ever f***ing complains about those. I have to sit and read that bulls*** but when I respond I get called out!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted November 17, 2004 Share Posted November 17, 2004 Either are all the f***ing liberal media bulls*** blasting posts by others. But of course no one ever f***ing complains about those. I have to sit and read that bulls*** but when I respond I get called out!! Plenty of people complain about those, yourself included. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mreye Posted November 17, 2004 Share Posted November 17, 2004 But you complain in a condescending manner like above. It gets old. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasonxctf Posted November 17, 2004 Share Posted November 17, 2004 They should Rostinkowski him. Off to Prison! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Queen Prawn Posted November 17, 2004 Share Posted November 17, 2004 They should Rostinkowski him. Off to Prison! LOL! That's a good way to put it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LowerCaseRepublican Posted November 19, 2004 Share Posted November 19, 2004 That is bulls***. Why should the rules for Delay be any different? I loved his "Show me where we are lowering the standards" comment that Delay gave in a press conference about this. As the Daily Show said: "Right now! You're doing it right now!" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted November 19, 2004 Share Posted November 19, 2004 I loved his "Show me where we are lowering the standards" comment that Delay gave in a press conference about this. As the Daily Show said: "Right now! You're doing it right now!" The first time I read your reply, I thought you said Daley, not Delay... then I got to thinking about it, and thought what is the difference. They are both trying to rig their legislatures so they can never lose, and would go to any lengths to further their goals... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlaSoxxJim Posted November 19, 2004 Share Posted November 19, 2004 But... but... Daley is a Democrat, so.... it's OK...? I lost my love for Daley when my dad got canned by him in a puely political appeasement move. He was Deputy Director at the Dept. of Health for 20 years, and was essentially the moving force behind the proactive inner city clinic reforms, mobile clinics in the 80's, very apolitical (had held the spot since Richard J.), but got axed in a political move. Oh well, now the city has to pay him wads of money as a private consultant to keep their hospital certifications current, when they used to be able to get him to do it for a public servants salary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted November 19, 2004 Share Posted November 19, 2004 Tell us how you really feel Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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