Dems must reach out to disenfranchised Repubs like Hefley....

"Hefley said in an interview yesterday that he believes he was removed because he was too independent. He said there is "a bad perception out there that there was a purge in the committee and that people were put in that would protect our side of the aisle better than I did." "Nobody should be there to protect anybody," he said. "They should be there to protect the integrity of the institution.""

Isn't that the whole idea behind an ethics committee? To rise above the partisan politics for the "good of the institution"?

First Hastert removed the respected chair of the Senate Veterans Affairs committee, now this.

Ehics? No, ETHUGS!

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The excerpt comes from a new WP article - read at http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A58884-2005Feb2?language=printer

n/t

Denver's TV channels should be covering this at the start of each broadcast: State's longest serving Representative (?) removed as head of House ethics panel because he allowed criticism of Delay who used his power to remove him.

Morals? what morals? Anybody see any morals in the republiKLAN?

Please provide Colorado media contact info for CO DU'ers.

There's a good list of links to Colorado media websites here: http://www.politics1.com/co.htm

http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/co05_hefley/PR050202.html

Hefley to step down as ethics committee chairman


(Washington, DC – Feb. 2, 2005) U.S. Rep. Joel Hefley, R-Colo., was informed today that he would not be reappointed as chairman of the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct.

Hefley’s comments follow.

“Being the chairman of this committee is an enormous responsibility, and truth be told, it will be somewhat of a relief to be free of that load.

“However, I am glad I had the opportunity to serve on a committee that I believe is extremely important to the institution of the Congress.

“It was a pleasure to work with Rep. Mollohan and the other members of the committee. I am very proud of the work the committee has done and think it has contributed to a better House of Representatives.

“I think Rep. Doc Hastings is an excellent choice for chairman. I have had the opportunity to work with him and believe he will do a good job in leading the committee.

“I am still troubled by the process that was used to change the ethics rules at the beginning of this Congress and with some of the new rules. As I have said previously, the ethics process in the House must be bipartisan and shouldn’t be enforced by party-line votes, and I plan to ask the House to revisit the recent changes.”

One of the most conservative districts in the entire country.

I don't know what we could reach out to him over.


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