Democrats Oppose 2 GOP Ethics Panel Picks

[struggle4progress]

By LARRY MARGASAK, Associated Press Writer
Thursday, February 10, 2005

House Democratic leaders on Thursday sought removal of two recently appointed Republicans from the ethics committee, questioning whether their judgment would be influenced by contributions to Majority Leader Tom DeLay's legal defense fund.

The committee last year deferred action on investigating any role played by DeLay, R-Texas, in a corporate campaign donation controversy in Texas that led to indictments of three of his political associates.

Rep. Lamar Smith of Texas contributed $10,000 to the defense fund and Rep. Tom Cole of Oklahoma donated $5,000, according to an analysis by the congressional watchdog group Public Citizen.

Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi of California and party whip Steny Hoyer of Maryland requested the removal in a letter to Speaker Dennis Hastert. The speaker's spokesman, Pete Jeffries, said Democrats want to "politicize the ethics committee." <snip>

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2005/02/10/national/w102101S20.DTL


Republicans won't "politicize" the panel -- they'll just sell it to the highest bidder ...

[ktowntennesseedem]

1. "GOP Ethics Panel" Sheesh!!! talk about an oxymoron!!!