Vote opens door for DeLay probe

Vote opens door for DeLay probe
Rep. Hart could lead investigation
Thursday, April 28, 2005

By Maeve Reston, Post-Gazette National Bureau



WASHINGTON -- House members voted last night by a wide margin to reverse ethics rule changes that the Republican majority approved in January -- handing a rare victory to Democrats, who had refused to allow the bipartisan ethics panel to begin its work.

The vote clears the way for an inquiry into the travel of House Majority Leader Tom DeLay and, potentially, Democratic members of Congress, as well.

The decision by House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert to go forward with the rule reversal -- which passed 406-20 -- came after weeks of controversy over rule changes that Democrats claimed were designed to protect DeLay from scrutiny and to retaliate against the bipartisan ethics committee after it reprimanded DeLay three times last year.

The vote last night will allow the ethics panel to officially organize as soon as today. A further inquiry into DeLay's activities -- which he has requested to clear his name and Republican ethics panel members have signaled they are willing to launch -- is likely to be led by newly appointed ethics panel member Rep. Melissa Hart, R- Bradford Woods.

<snip> more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05118/495621.stm

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