Newsflash: corruption scandals still a threat to GOP
By Kirstin Ellison
Posted on Wed May 30, 2007 at 05:20:44 PM EST
Congressional Corruption Caucus (AP Photo)
If the House GOP was hoping that headlines and gossip linking their ranks with corruption and scandal would fade away after last November's massacre, they were definitely being overly optimistic. In fact, even though last November saw a House-cleaning of sorts, the worrisome numbers are building again.
In pure numbers, Republicans are approaching the magnitude of their problem at this stage of the 2006 election cycle. Eventually, nine House Republicans faced FBI investigations. Four stepped down, and two -- Reps. Randy "Duke" Cunningham of California and Bob Ney of Ohio -- are in prison. Of the five who sought re-election, three lost and the other two remain under ethical clouds.
Let's see...so far I can count one...two...three...SIX current Republican Members of Congress under investigation/suspicion of corruption. Let's review!
Lawmakers could have kept Calvert from new post
By Kirstin Ellison
Posted on Thu May 17, 2007 at 11:47:36 AM EST
Following all the hoopla surrounding Rep. Ken Calvert's (R-CA) ascension to Rep. John Doolittle's (R-CA) seat on the House Appropriations Committee, here's a demoralizing tidbit that's come to light - lawmakers could have stopped Calvert's assignment, but didn't.
During the [voice] vote, several Republican shouts of "no" prompted the GOP to call for a show of hands, which indicated a lopsided vote in favor of Calvert's appointment, according to several GOP sources present. There was an objection to confirming the appointment by a show of hands, and at least one member called for a secret-ballot vote. But that move would have required a unanimous agreement, and at least one member objected. As a result, the effort failed, the sources said.
This week, some GOP members were still lamenting the decision.
"It's like we didn't learn anything from last year," one GOP lawmaker said, referring to the November elections and the loss of the party's majority control.
Well, it's a lesson they'll certainly get a chance to learn again if they don't change their ways. And I'm not just talking about Republicans, either - Democrats could have stopped the assignment, too, but didn't.
Have they no shame?
By Kirstin Ellison
Posted on Wed May 16, 2007 at 12:15:36 PM EST
It's hard to believe, but the Congressional Corruption Caucus can't seem to get enough of themselves.
Follow me as we wade through this unbelievable mess:
1) Rep. John Doolittle (R-CA) steps down from his position on the powerful House Appropriations Committee after the FBI raided his wife's office.
2) The Republican Steering Committee needs someone to fill his post on Appropriations. Of all the choices, who do they pick? This guy - Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA), who is under suspicion of using earmarks for personal gain. Way to go - put someone who may have used federal funding to increase the value of his own land on the committee that oversees where federal funding goes. Genius.
3) But wait! It gets so much better! In order to take the Appropriations gig, Calvert left his position as the leader of the Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics of the House Committee on Science and Technnology. Who announced today that he was taking Calvert's place? None other than Rep. Tom Feeney (R-FL), of course. Feeney, you'll remember, took an Abramoff-paid golf trip to Scotland in 2003; former Congressional aide Mark Zachares recently pleaded guilty to charges related to that trip.
What a nice set-up they have here, right? One lawmaker gives up his position because he's under investigation for corruption, and they give it to another lawmaker who's under suspicion for corruption...and then they give that lawmaker's committee seat to yet another lawmaker under investigation. I'm almost dizzy trying to keep up with the sheer ridiculousness of it all. Talk about nerve...
"We'll know it when we see it" is not good enough
By Kirstin Ellison
Posted on Wed Apr 25, 2007 at 05:32:31 PM EST
Roll Call asks an excellent question: when it comes to Members of Congress who come under criminal investigation, what is the rule for stepping down from important committee posts? The answer, simply put, is that there isn't one.
House rules provide only that when a Member is convicted of a crime carrying a sentence of more than two years, he or she "should not" engage in committee business or vote on the floor. Further action is up to the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct and the House membership.
Both parties have formal rules that a leader or committee chairman who's indicted automatically steps down from those posts, but there is no formal rule applying to rank-and-file Members.
Well, uh...that just sounds like an invitation to do nothing...
Oh, and what do you know?!
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