Reply #13: G.O.P. Chiefs in House Weigh Vote On Ethics (D-E-S-P-E-R-A-T-I-O-N) [View All]

[jefferson_dem]

Gee...you think they're feeling a bit defensive...desperately hoping to stop the hemorrhaging??? :popcorn:

WASHINGTON, April 26 - House Republican leaders are weighing whether to allow a vote on reversing rules changes that have paralyzed the ethics committee, a move that could clear the way to an investigation of the overseas travel of Representative Tom DeLay, the majority leader, and other House members.

Lawmakers and other senior officials said Tuesday that Speaker J. Dennis Hastert and other leaders are moving toward the conclusion that the only way out of the ethics impasse is to abandon the rules changes opposed by Democrats who have refused to allow the committee to get to work.

Republicans say the ethics fight, combined with the attention that has been focused on Mr. DeLay over fund-raising and travel irregularities, has not only become a distraction but also a political liability that they want to defuse.

"Obviously it is an issue that we very, very much want to address," said Representative David Dreier of California, the Rules Committee chairman, who would not discuss details of the leadership strategy.

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http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/27/politics/27ethics.html