Hastert urging Ney to quit chairmanship of House panel

[Schmajo]

http://www.dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2006/01/14/20060114-A1-01.html

“House Speaker Dennis Hastert is trying to push Rep. Bob Ney from his powerful post as chairman of the House Administration Committee, according to a highly placed Republican source.
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Ney, who was in New Orleans for a hearing on housing needs in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, confirmed that he is talking with Hastert about giving up the chairmanship. ‘I’m considering it — stepping down temporarily — and once the issue is over, I’ll come back,’ Ney told the Associated Press. ‘Life continues. I’ll continue to do my job.’
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Ney said there is so much controversy about Abramoff that he did not want to get in the way of Congress continuing its work. Ney and his top aides have maintained that he has not violated any law and would cooperate in any investigation.
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Hastert’s move is another sign that House Republicans are feverishly trying to distance themselves from the Abramoff scandal. Rep. Tom DeLay, R-Texas, who has had ties to Abramoff in the past, gave up plans to regain his post as majority leader.”
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