Mich. congressman reaffirms alleged bribe for (Medicare) vote

From Thursday's Detroit News -- no link yet.
Mich. congressman reaffirms alleged bribe for vote

By LISA ZAGAROLI and DEB PRICE
The Detroit News

WASHINGTON — Rep. Nick Smith, the Michigan Republican under fire for suggesting that he was promised money for his son's congressional campaign in exchange for a vote, reaffirmed Wednesday that he was offered ``aggressive and substantial'' support that he interpreted to include finances.

``Nobody mentioned any dollar amount,'' Smith said. ``Members of Congress are really too smart to come up to you on the floor and say, 'We'll give you so many dollars for this.'''

In his first extensive comments on the matter since shortly after he refused to vote for a controversial Medicare prescription drug benefit in late November, Smith told The Detroit News that he would cooperate with a House ethics committee inquiry that may be the subject of a closed-door hearing Thursday.

... Politically, the flap already is adding fuel to the Democrats' election-year pitch to voters to return them to control over the House, arguing that Republican stewardship has deteriorated into a hardball game heavily influenced by business interests.

more to come

How many does that make in the last 2 years?????

Edit: What does that do the Medicare bill? Do it have to go to the floor for vote again or is it a done deal?

about the energy bill.

Than ANYTHING related to the "House Bank", isn't it? :eyes:

Hand those folks power---they'll make you pay for it, every time...

There's a DAMN GOOD REASON when the Repubs lost the House majority in 1954 they didn't get it back again for forty years!:mad:

B-)

I REALLY hope karma is ready to take a chunk outta these criminals.

LA Times has a story as well, but is subscription

Lawmaker's allegations of bribery investigated

February 12, 2004

BY RUBY BAILEY
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER

WASHINGTON -- A U.S. House of Representatives committee is conducting an informal fact finding into statements made by Rep. Nick Smith that he was offered $100,000 for his son's congressional campaign in exchange for a yes vote on the Medicare bill passed last year.

The disclosure on the House Committee on Standards and Ethics Web site came after Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md., sent a letter to the Republican leadership requesting an inquiry into Smith's allegations, which Smith has since downplayed. Is is unclear when the inquiry will be completed.

<snip>
After the vote, Smith issued news releases and statements detailing the attempts by those he identified only as Republican leaders to bribe him with offers of money and assistance for his son's campaign. They then threatened to work against Smith's son if he didn't vote yes, he said. Smith voted against the measure, citing cost concerns.

more...

http://www.freep.com/news/nw/dsmith12_20040212.htm

:D