CREW's statement about Hasting's Ethical "Compromise"

http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=46175

"While it appears that Mr. Hastings is beginning to understand the problems with the ethics rules, a one-time fix with an investigation into Tom Delay does not solve the problem.

“Even if the subcommittee commits itself to an investigation, the rule allowing witnesses to share a lawyer would still apply. This rule is clearly intended to promote collusion between witnesses and to prevent the ethics committee from getting to the truth of the matter. In addition, this rule change is in clear conflict with the legal ethics rules prohibiting lawyers from representing witnesses with conflicts of interest.

“While we certainly believe the ethics committee should investigate all of the allegations against Mr. Delay, including the still unresolved allegations involving fund-raising efforts for Texans for a Republican Majority (from last years complaint filed by then-Congressman Chris Bell), the committee first needs to address the issues created by the egregious changes unilaterally made to the ethics committee's rules by the GOP majority in January.

“The ethics problems are not just about Mr. DeLay. The fact that the Majority does not understand that the ethics process needs to be fundamentally fair and bipartisan, demonstrates how arrogant they have become. Far from cleaning up the ethics process, they once claimed they would do if given control of Congress, they have debased the ethics process and severely undermined American's confidence in the integrity of the people's House.”

This is the key, and so true:

The ethics problems are not just about Mr. DeLay. The fact that the Majority does not understand that the ethics process needs to be fundamentally fair and bipartisan, demonstrates how arrogant they have become.

Guess they never heard about huberis or the old saying "pride goeth before a fall".

The GOP needs to reinstate the old ethics rules now so that a proper investigation of Delay can take place. If the GOP refuses to do this, then the ethich charges will hang around and pull down the party.