US House Ethics Chair Comments on 'Bribery' Claim

[kainah]

By Thomas Ferraro

WASHINGTON, Dec 8 (Reuters) - The chairman of the House of Representatives ethics committee said on Monday it would be "appropriate" to examine a Republican congressman's now-dropped assertion that bribes were offered to win passage of the Medicare prescription drug bill.

The chairman, Rep. Joel Hefley, a Colorado Republican, declined to say if his panel had already begun such an inquiry or if it planned one.

But Hefley told reporters, "It's certainly an appropriate one for the ethics committee to look into." He added that if a member is found to have offered a bribe he could be censured or even expelled from Congress.

snip....

DeLay then went on the offensive, telling reporters to look into what he called threats by House Democratic leaders against any member who voted for the Medicare bill.

Hoyer replied that while there was spirited debate about Medicare, "I didn't threaten anybody. Period."

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N08256524.htm

[Guaranteed]

1. How about holding out on closing the vote for 3 hours

while Tom Delay went arm-twisting so that he could get just enough votes to pass it? Is that unethical?

[proud patriot]

2. hee hee hee hee hee hee

hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee:D

[UpInArms]

3. wasn't there another vote

that they did this on not too long ago that was on C-Span that they held the vote open forever and made some woman cry and change her vote?

These guys are no better than mafioso thugs.

[annak110]

6. You got it-that is exactly what they are,

mafioso thugs!

The depth of corruption in our government is staggering.

[mbperrin]

4. Move along, nothing to see here,

move along now, those body parts are nothing.

[kainah]

5. today, during debate on Pelosi's privileged resolution on this

I was disappointed that none of them pointed to the presence of Tommy Thompson on the floor lobbying that night. That's against the rules, also, I believe since he is not a former member of Congress.