Ethics Panel Investigates Medicare Vote

[radfringe]

Ethics Panel Investigates Medicare Vote
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A17162-2004Feb5.html
By Juliet Eilperin, Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, February 6, 2004; Page A02

The House ethics committee is conducting an inquiry into whether lawmakers offered bribes or threats on Nov. 22 as they tried to persuade Rep. Nick Smith (R-Mich.) to vote for a Medicare prescription drug bill, which narrowly passed.

The panel's chairman, Joel Hefley (R-Colo.), and ranking Democrat, Alan B. Mollohan (W.Va.), said this week they are undertaking an "informal fact-finding" mission that started two months ago. Democrats have been demanding a probe for weeks.

Smith created an uproar last year when he said GOP leaders offered "bribes and special deals," including contributions for his son's 2004 congressional campaign, if he would vote for the bill. Smith, who voted nay, later retracted the bribery allegation.