GOP Climbs Down on Most Ethics Rules

Tom DeLay, former pest exterminator and current Majority Leader in the House of Representatives, addressed a closed session of the Republican caucus on Monday and convinced them to reverse some ethics rules changes. While it may cost the Texas congressman his position, it is good party politics. In the long-run, the resulting micro-reforms might actually improve things over all.

Back on November 17, the GOP members of congress changed the ethics rules that required House leaders to step down if indicted for felonies. Since Mr. DeLay has been “admonished” by the House Ethics Committee three times in the last year, and since three of his cronies have been indicted by a Texas grand jury, it was thought he might appreciate the protection of lower ethical standards. Quickly, the Democrats played the sleaze card, and nimbly, the GOP has withdrawn the rule.

At the same time, another new rule has been made which says that any complaint before the Ethics Committee that goes 45 days without action dies. Previously, an investigative sub-committee took up any complaint after 45 days. Since the committee is divided evenly, five seats for both the GOP and the Democrats, the effect is to give each party a veto on the investigation of its own people. Some, like the moderate Republican from Connecticut Christopher Shays, say this weakens the Ethics Committee’s ability to police Congress. While it is true that the committee’s power is reduced, it does not follow that this will stone-wall investigations.

The House Ethics Committee, like all such committees, is largely window dressing, a body that exists so that members have a court of first resort to hush things up. A truly ethical body has no need of such a committee. Any complaint possessing a modicum of validity that dies in this committee will become a cause celebre for the other party’s activists and for the media. Any such issue will be the kind of bleeding wound that gives politicians nightmares. Rather than protecting a member, party leaders will have a vested interest in getting to the bottom of things.

All credit to Mr. DeLay for putting party above self here. He isn’t the kind of man who would ever win hearts and minds in this journal, but he has set an example. One wonders if he learned between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day that there is no indictment coming. That isn’t cynicism – rather it is a tribute to his political sense. Creating the appearance of sacrifice when none exists is an excellent maneuver.

© Copyright 2005 by The Kensington Review, J. Myhre, Editor. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent.

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