Congressman Bell Files Ethics Complaint against Congressman DeLay

For approximately seven years, there has been a truce in the House of Representatives over ethics. Neither the Democrats nor the Republicans have brought any sort of charges against the other party. This immoral and foolish truce ended when Chris Bell, a Democrat said, "It's my opinion Mr. DeLay is the most corrupt politician in America today."

First of all, Mr. Bell is wrong. So long as Governor Rowland of Connecticut is around, Mr. DeLay cannot be the most corrupt politician in the country. Moreover, since the entire House of Representatives has looked the other way on ethics for years, Mr. DeLay may have competition as yet unnamed.

There are three basic charges, which may or may not be violations of the House ethics code. Westar Energy may or may not have tried to buy influence over pending legislation through Mr. DeLay; Mr. DeLay may or may not have illegally funneled campaign money to candidates in Texas races; and he may or may not have abused his position to get the FAA to track a plane used by Texas Democrats as they avoided quorum calls in the redistricting fight in the state.

What is troubling is the timing. Mr. Bell just lost a primary against another incumbent Democrat thanks in large part to the Republican gerrymander of Texas (which undid a previously more Democrat friendly gerrymander). Funny how the charges only came up now.

Be that as it may, ethics charges should never be subject to a truce between the parties. Many things can be placed out of bounds, but the honor and honesty of the elected officials of a republic must be open to scrutiny. And how to prevent the abuse of ethics charges and prevent their use as a political weapon? Quite simply, the House should make it against the ethics code to bring charges that are subsequently dismissed.


© Copyright 2004 by The Kensington Review, J. Myhre, Editor. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent.


Home