JUSIPER

 
House refuses to investigate Abramoff scandal

Posted by Sini

On a party line vote. Oh just think about the ads this October.

Less than 24 hours after disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff was sentenced to 70 months in prison for fraud committed in connection with the purchase of a casino cruise line in Florida, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) offered a privileged resolution today calling for an immediate investigation into Abramoff's ties to members of Congress and staffers.

In seeking support for the resolution, Pelosi cites Republicans' decision to move Rep. Joel Hefley (R-Colo.) out as chairman of the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct (as the Ethics Committee is formally known), the rule changes (later rescinded) on procedures governing the committee's handling of complaints and the revelations concerning Abramoff's relationships with several members of Congress.

The resolution was set aside by a vote of 216-193 -- largely along party lines (the Republican majority voted to table Pelosi's proposal). Six Republicans voted with the Democrats: Reps. Jim Gerlach (Pa.), Todd Platts (Pa.), Mark Green (Wisc.), Mark Souder (Ind.), Jim Leach (Iowa) and Chris Shays (Conn.). Gerlach and Shays face tough reelection fights this year, while Green is running for governor in Wisconsin.

Thanks GOP! We know you wouldn't have run a proper investigation anyway; now we have you on record opposing one.

10:42 AM |