WaPo : Minor Mutiny in GOP Ranks Fails to Derail Tom DeLay

[jefferson_dem]

Good-government groups are trashing House Republicans, but let it be noted that a few of those lawmakers boldly stood up to their powerful majority leader, Tom DeLay of Texas, last week.

In an unrecorded voice vote conducted behind closed doors Wednesday, Republican House members changed an 11-year-old rule that required party leaders to step aside if indicted on felony charges. The change will allow DeLay to keep his leadership post in case a Texas grand jury -- which has indicted three of his political associates --targets him next.

Lawmakers said a handful of members spoke against the rule during the debate, and perhaps three dozen or so said "nay" when the vote was called. Among those who publicly acknowledged their opposition were Connecticut's three GOP representatives -- Christopher Shays, Rob Simmons and Nancy L. Johnson -- the Hartford Courant reported.

"A rule is a rule, and there's no need to change it," Simmons told the newspaper. Shays called the vote "a mistake," and said he reminded colleagues that Republicans in the early 1990s had vowed to run a more ethical Congress.

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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A64027-2004Nov19.html

[NewJeffCT]

1. If only more Republicans were like Shays

Who is pretty moderate, even by old Republican standards. Simmons & Johnson may have just said that for effect, as I don't know if I believe them.

[Skink]

2. Oh that's Ok

Tom will just have them redisticted out and the Dems will run someone more conservative to fill the void.