House Panel Prepare to Investigate Delay Republicans agree to ethics probe

MSNBC


WASHINGTON - Retreating under pressure, Republicans on the House ethics committee said Wednesday they were ready to open an investigation into allegations of wrongdoing against Majority Leader Tom DeLay.

Four of the five Republicans on the committee were ready to move ahead, said Rep. Doc Hastings, the panel’s Republican chairman. The panel also has five Democratic members.

The Republicans were “prepared to vote at the earliest opportunity to empanel an investigations subcommittee to review various allegations concerning travel and other actions” by DeLay, he said.

The ethics committee has authority to start an investigation based on information it receives “through public and other sources,” Hastings said.


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7575370/

edit to fix headline

minute ago Politics - U. S. Congress


By LARRY MARGASAK, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - Retreating under pressure, Republicans on the House ethics committee said Wednesday they were ready to open an investigation into allegations of wrongdoing against Majority Leader Tom DeLay.


Four of the five Republicans on the committee were ready to move ahead, said Rep. Doc Hastings (news, bio, voting record), the panel's Republican chairman. The panel also has five Democratic members.
~snip~

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=512&ncid=1278&e=7&u=/ap/20050420/ap_on_go_co/house_ethics

investigation started. No way.

really exist now because they R's and D's can't agree on the rules.

Repubs want to change the rules. Dems say no. Repubs said we will start an investigation but you have to agree to the rules (which will make a party line vote clear someone).

On CNN, Ed Henry (is that his name?) said the Dems won't agree to that so we are right back where we started. This is just a ploy by the House Republicans.

Posted on Wed, Apr. 20, 2005
BY TODD J. GILLMAN
The Dallas Morning News

WASHINGTON - (KRT) - In a game with rapidly growing stakes, Republicans raised the ante Wednesday, offering to open another investigation of Majority Leader Tom DeLay - if Democrats would drop objections to new rules that have paralyzed the House ethics committee. <snip>

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/politics/11445418.htm

Tom DeLay nominated for sainthood to cheers of "Santo subito!"

MSNBC just sid that House Republicans had agreed to allow an Ethics Committee investigation.

Must mean they have the fix in already.

Get DeLay. And while they are at it, get the rest of them in Congress. It is so damn corrupt. Everyone puts their relatives on the payroll, takes money for votes. No one party has a monopoly on this corruption. Anyone that thinks so is very naive.

the text of the 'ethics' report in full.

I'm pinning my hopes on the investigation in Texas.

Do you suppose they'll find any? Ethics of any sort, that is?

Perhaps with a microscope....

them are no better than Delay. Campaign Message in 2006 - "oh see we will come down hard on our own if they are corrupt -you can trust us to control everything still" wink, wink.

Hey, heeeeyyyyyy....GOODBYYYYEEEE


http://www.markfiore.com/animation/exterm.html

Link: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/H/HOUSE_ETHICS?SITE=FLTAM&SECTION=POLITICS&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

Enjoy!!!

:hi:

...begins the first line. Gotta love that!

Nothing more.

especially if these Repubs have Rove and Cheney's blessing.

These are the same people whom DeLay threatened to de-fund if they didn't back him. You can't be de-funded by someone who is no longer there.

:headbang:
rocknation

:nuke:

of this investigation, under the current rules.

Calling Henry Waxman...

,...it's make the Republican party smell even more stinky than they already do.

This is the offer dems rejected a week ago! A DeLay investigation would be the *last* one against a repub under this proposed offer.

The dems "primary objection is to a rule that would automatically dismiss cases in a tie vote — allowing either party on the evenly divided committee to stop an investigation."

Let the dead lock go forever.
It only embarasses the Repugs. They cant white wash someone when the "fixed" committee can't convene.
This is only getting better. They don't get it, do they?

http://beta.news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050420/ap_on_go_co/delay_skybox&printer=1

<snip> House Majority Leader Tom DeLay treated his political donors to a bird's-eye view of a Three Tenors concert from an arena skybox leased by a lobbyist now under criminal investigation.

<snip> DeLay's political action committee did not reimburse lobbyist Jack Abramoff for the May 2000 use of the skybox, instead treating it as a type of donation that didn't have to be disclosed to election regulators at the time.

<snip> The skybox donation, valued at thousands of dollars, came three weeks before DeLay also accepted a trip to Europe — including golf with Abramoff at the world-famous St. Andrews course — for himself, his wife and aides that was underwritten by some of the lobbyist's clients.

<snip> Two months after the concert and trip, DeLay voted against gambling legislation opposed by some of Abramoff's Indian tribe clients.

the headline. Gotta wonder. Repugs investigating ethics violations would be like pigs investigating s***. They're so convered in it they don't even realize.

they'll smack him on the hand and say there's nothing to go after him for.

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh..............

I got $100 that says Delay walks away from this with..

I know the repukes too well - they have something up their sleeves.

What odds are you giving anyways?

:eyes:

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGBYJI5YR7E.html

Ethics Panel to Open DeLay Investigation, Chairman Says
By Larry Margasak
Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - Retreating under pressure, Republicans on the House ethics committee said Wednesday they were ready to open an investigation into allegations of wrongdoing against Majority Leader Tom DeLay.
Four of the five Republicans on the committee were ready to move ahead, said Rep. Doc Hastings, the panel's Republican chairman. The panel also has five Democratic members.

The Republicans were "prepared to vote at the earliest opportunity to empanel an investigations subcommittee to review various allegations concerning travel and other actions" by DeLay, he said.

The ethics committee has authority to start an investigation based on information it receives "through public and other sources," Hastings said.

Hastings made his announcement in hopes of breaking a deadlock that has prevented the ethics panel from getting down to business for the year.

MORE AT LINK

We all know that the fix is in, unless the WH called and gave instructions to get rid of Delay, sort of like they did with old Trent Lott, after his trip down racist memory lane.

"Delay's hanpicked ethics panel, to perform dog and pony show before quietly and ever so gently slapping Delay on wrist"

or simply a way to provide cover for the Hammer? We can't count on the corporate press to ask any tough questions and keep their feet to the fire.

...cant we????

"get back to business."

Right...

Toss him.


Now let's watch DeLay. What will he do?

that Rove and Cheney are exercising their OWN nuclear option.

The Republicans have nothing to gain by keeping DeLay around, especially since he's threatened to pull the funding of anyone who doesn't back him. Since he's ignored advice to address the allegations and to step aside until everything is sorted out, the Bush Oval office might the playing their trump card--the humiliation of being ousted by his own rank and file. Talk about a dead man walking!

:headbang:
rocknation

you know what I mean?

Thing is, BugMan's not exactly the most emotionally stable
person in the world. He has a persecution complex the
size of Texas.

Lott went off quietly. But DeLay?

"seems like a dream"

you can say that again, it looks great on the homepage.

..."to empanel an investigations subcommittee to review various allegations concerning travel and other actions" by DeLay, he said."

Will this subcommittee fall under the new Repub ethics rule that after 45 days if a conclusion in regards to someone they are investigating is not arrived at its tossed out? Or will this be outside the newly created rules?

Ethics Committee says if they don't get a mojority ruling within 45 days, the charges just go away. That's why DeLay wanted this to go to the Ethics Commission.

If that's true, it doesn't sound like very good news to me!

"The investigation cannot proceed unless Democrats end the stalemate over the rules. Hastings (Republican chair) called the proposal “a means by which he (DeLay) can state his case.” (from MSNBC.COM)

Agree to our rules change and we'll gladly investigate. But if you don't agree, no investigation.

No wonder the White House is standing behind Delay; they know he won't get invesigated, and they can accuse the Dems of obstructing justice to boot!!!

the Democrats agree to rules that make the investigation meaningless. :eyes: A typical Resluglican ploy. There will be no game unless you abide by the rules we set, and according to the rules we set, you cannot win.

We are dealing with an enemy that operates on multiple levels of deception; things are NEVER as they first appear.

wecome to Washington. Dems get blamed for no ethics investigation.

As Sidwill noted above, this is just a dog and pony show. The latest rules allow the Republicans to block a majority ruling. They'll get to say they sent this to the ethics committee, which is making news. But it won't go anywhere. The talking point will be "the ethics committee looked into the allegations, and found there were no ethics violations. Democrats and Liberals should move on. blah blah blah..."

Does anyone actually think this could have happened without majority leader DeLay's OK?



http://www.cafepress.com/kickindemocrats

He's outside of the Congress, and is pushing all of this, and I happen to think he's doing well.

The BS in Congress is just going to die. It might not be a bad thing though! If DeLay stays in office and in his position as Leader, WHEN he goes down in TX could be a GREAT thing for the Dems!!! Will prove all the deception!!!

will his "friends" really let the investigation go forward in a way that will reveal the real story, or will this be a publicity stunt designed to showcase the GOP addressing an issue but result in little more than a slap on his wrist?

bottom line, will an independent counsel be appointed? if not, this is likely to be nothing but spin . . .

We got them on the run in both Houses. We own them.

We hardly, "own them". They have demonstrated that they will do anything, within and out of the law, to win. They're setting the rules for this farce, do you actually think it will be fair, if it happens at all? The Reslugs won't agree to an investigation unless the Dems agree to all of the rules changes regarding the investigation. Hence, no investigation, in my opinion.

that this actually means anything.

I guess I'm too cynical, but I believe like quite a few of the other posters that this is nothing more than a whitewash. The MSM won't actually ask any hard questions or push for an independent counsel. The "ethics" committee won't find anything "substantive". DeLay will get a slap on the wrist and the Repugs will say they did their job and the Dems will shrug their shoulders and say "we tried".

:grr:

By the way, a big "welcome to DU" from an equally cynical skeptic!

:hi:

A picture of Tom Delay, please.

Tom Delay Shits Self In Middle of Senate Floor
http://www.presidentevilonline.com/sn_delayshit.html


"I feel vindicated, finally!"

maybe they'll be squashing one of their own

:hi: :hi:

These days it seems that we getting committees picked and all they do is white-wash the crimes taking place by our government officials.
How many cover-ups have we seen in Washington lately?

I LOVE IT!!

You're going down, Tommy-Boy!


DeLay Inc. is going to crash!!

No matter what the Rethugs do now regarding Delay he is tainted in the public perception. He is manure now and the Rethugs want to get rid of the stink that will wash all over the rest. That the Bush Junta is flip flopping on him indicates that they are in a Catch 22. Defending him makes them compicit. Not defending him makes them disloyal.

For Dems, the longer the stink remains the better.

is that better or worse for the GOP?

They could spin it as they've released the jetsam.

Now the GOP can say "see! We wanted an investigation but democrats didn't want to play ball." What a load.

I hope like hell he goes down hard.

Delay will be going down on something hard, not going down hard

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The top Democrat on the U.S. House of Representatives ethics committee rejected a conditional offer by Republicans on Wednesday to clear the way for another probe of Majority Leader Tom DeLay, who was admonished by the panel last year on three separate matters.

Rep. Alan Mollohan of West Virginia said a Republican proposal to end a stalemate over the way investigations are conducted would undermine the ability of the panel to do its job.

"It would allow complaints to be dismissed without -- in some instances, perhaps not all -- without proper contemplation," Mollohan told a news conference.

Mollohan spoke minutes after committee chairman Doc Hastings, a Washington state Republican, said he would move to form an investigative subcommittee to "review various allegations concerning travel and other actions by Mr. DeLay" if Democrats agreed to revised changes.

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=politicsNews&storyID=8244785&src=rss/ElectionCoverage

"Republicans agree" is a ruse.

they turn on their own and eat their young. Talk about cowards. I'm sure some will be singing to prevent themselves from becoming Noriega's girlfriend!

Paula

Time to nail the "hammer", at last! :woohoo:

Published on Thursday, February 3, 2005 by the Los Angeles Times

DeLay Critic Removed From Ethics Committee
Doc Hastings Replaces Joel Hefley, Who Had Rebuked the Majority Leader Three Times

by Richard Simon

WASHINGTON Ñ The House ethics committee chairman who presided over three rebukes of House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas) was bounced from the job Wednesday and replaced by a Republican congressman from Washington state.

The new chairman is Rep. Doc Hastings, the committee's second-ranking Republican. He was named by House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) to take the gavel from Rep. Joel Hefley (R-Colo.).

In addition, Hastert appointed three new members to the panel, including two Ñ Reps. Lamar S. Smith (R-Texas) and Tom Cole (R-Okla.) Ñ whose political action committees have contributed to DeLay's legal defense fund. Smith's PAC contributed $5,000 in 2001 and an additional $5,000 between July and September 2004; Cole's gave $5,000 between July and September 2004.

The third new Republican member is Rep. Melissa A. Hart of Pennsylvania.

Key Players in the House Ethics Mess

The Ethics Committee

The Ethics Committee, officially the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct, is comprised of five Democrats and five Republicans and is the only House committee where members are evenly divided along party lines.Ê House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL) recently appointed three new Republican Members to the panel, Reps. Lamar Smith (R-TX), Tom Cole (R-OK) and Melissa Hart (R-PA).Ê They replace former Chairman Joel Hefley (R-CO) and Reps. Kenny Hulshof (R-MO), and Steven LaTourette (R-OH), all of whom voted along with their Democratic colleagues on the committee to admonish House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-TX) three times last year.Ê Additional Republican members of the Ethics Committee include Rep. Doc Hastings (WA), the new chairman, and Judy Biggert (IL).Ê Democratic Members include Alan Mollohan (WV), the senior ranking member, along with Stephanie Tubbs Jones (OH), Gene Green (TX), Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA), and Michael Doyle (PA).Ê Rep. Mollohan has refused to allow the committee to officially organize in the 109th Congress unless a vote is allowed on his resolution to rescind the ethics rules changes proposed by the Republican House leadership that gutted the ethics process passed in January.Ê As of March 25, the resolution had 206 cosponsors.

Rep. Doc Hastings, R-Washington: Ê Hastings is the newly appointed chairman of the Ethics Committee and is viewed by many as a party loyalist.Ê According to the Center for Responsive Politics, Hastings has received $5,930 in campaign contributions from DeLay's political action committee, Americans for a Republican Majority (ARMPAC).Ê Mollohan's resolution is awaiting action in the House Subcommittee on Rules and Organization of the House; the committee chair is Doc Hastings.Ê Hastings has not said whether he will recuse himself in the matter.

http://www.commoncause.org/site/pp.asp?c=dkLNK1MQIwG&b=477137

Keeping Delay on will probably only strengten the democrats in the long run.

And keep the pressure cooking heater on his ass until the freepers eat him alive and spit him out like afterdone stew.....

http://houseofscandal.org

Begin the cannibalism and watch the show!!