Roll Call: Ney Given Power to Subpoena Leaders of Democratic 527s

[Sparky McGruff]

An unusually contentious House Administration Committee hearing ended Thursday morning with the panel voting to grant Chairman Bob Ney (R-Ohio) authority to subpoena the leaders of several Democratic fundraising groups.


That's all there is to this story; For background see http://www.thehill.com/news/111903/ney.aspx

House Administration Chairman Robert Ney (R-Ohio) is threatening to subpoena six top fundraisers for Democrat-aligned interest groups who yesterday refused to testify at a hearing scheduled for tomorrow.

Citing First Amendment and partisan concerns, five of the six Democrats who were asked to appear sent a letter to Ney saying, “we respectfully decline your invitation.”

The fundraisers’ refusal to testify — and Ney’s threat to subpoena them — raises to a new level the partisan standoff over how money can legitimately be raised and spent following last year’s campaign finance reforms."

[ithacan]

1. signs of right wing desperation

this kind of story, while maddening, is also just more evidence that the right-wingers who control the GOP know they are probably going to lose. They are desperate and so will stop at nothing. In that sense they are very dangerous...

[candy331]

2. In this case is turn about

fair play so that Dems can supoena repugs records also?

[T Bone]

8. Not without the votes

The Democrats are the minority in the Congress, and thus the minority on every committee. Democrats don't have the votes to subpoena anyone, unless a Repuke crosses over and votes with them.

[bluestateguy]

3. This guy is turning into a modern day Wayne Hays

The Committee on House Administration is probably the most important committee on Capitol Hill and the least important outside of Capitol Hill. It handles things like parking permits, office space, office supplies. Hays was the Chairman of this Committee in the 60's and 70's and abused his powers as Chairman to get what he wanted from other members, but everyone hated him. When he got caught with his hands in the cookie jar nobody was there to defend him .

[cmd]

6. Interesting - my congressmen at work

Wayne L. Hayes brought a lot more back to the district than Ney has. Good old Wayne was caught because he had a secretary that didn't know how to type. She apparently was good at "other things".

[grytpype]

4. This shit never ends with these people, does it?

What is it going to take to kill those fucking werewolves?

[Sick of Bullshit]

5. A silver cross and lots of holy water

ought to do the trick!

[aquart]

9. Depends on where you stick the silver cross, I think.

[fabius]

7. Ney the Congresscritter with the French name...

...we ought to spread this meme with the freepers. Ney = French. Of course claiming this idiot is an insult to the French, after all this is Mr. Freedom Fries we're talking about here.

Aaauuugggh!

As far as progressive organizations getting a lot of money from billionaires...:bounce: :evilgrin: Bring it On!

It'll be nice to be competitive with Rovelians in the money department. Parity in money plus 50 points higher average IQ for our side equals VICTORY!

Eat it, Repugs!