Rep Slaughter asks for help in calling for GOP Ethics Chief to Step Aside

[Rose Siding]

by Rep Louise Slaughter
Thu Jun 9th, 2005 at 14:15:40 PDT

I'm fed up. Enough is enough... everyone over here needs to speak up and call on Chairman Hastings of the Ethics Committee to step aside and let the committee do its work. Today my office released the following press release calling on him to step aside. Be sure to post a comment and recommend this diary so that others will see it and join us in calling on Hastings to step down. The Ethics Committee cannot operate when those charged with running it have ethical questions of their own.

...

Rep. Slaughter Demands GOP Ethics Chief Step Aside

Rules Committee Ranking Member Seeks Action in Stalled Committee

Washington, DC - Rep. Louise M. Slaughter (D-NY), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Rules, responded this afternoon to Republican Ethics Committee Chairman Doc Hastings' rejection of tradition by refusing to name a non-partisan committee staff director. His actions have led to a virtual stand still delaying any work in the Committee for the second time in just six months. The Rules Committee has jurisdiction over the rules of the Ethics Committee.

"Chairman Hastings' refusal to follow tradition and keep the staff of the Ethics Committee non-partisan is just another attempt by the Republican Majority to politicize the committee and subvert the Ethics process of Congress for the benefit of one man," said Rep. Slaughter.

Even more troubling are the ties between Chairman Hastings and notorious Washington lobbyist Jack Abramoff reported in today's Houston Chronicle. According to their reporting, Hastings had an ongoing relationship with Preston Gates, the same law firm that employed Abramoff.

.....MORE.....

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/6/9/171540/3172

[acmavm]

1. When it comes to republicans the surprise would be if there WEREN'T

some kind of conflict of interest involved.