Committees: Jefferson to Small Business, Ciro Rodriguez to Appropriations

[Greeby]

http://www.thehill.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Frontpage/121306/jeffersonnew.html

Rep. William Jefferson (D-La.), who was removed by incoming Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) from the powerful Ways and Means Committee last year, will serve on the Small Business Committee pending a vote by the full Democratic caucus, according to a Pelosi release.

Pelosi successfully removed Jefferson from the Ways and Means panel last year after the FBI allegedly discovered $90,000 in bribe money in his freezer during a raid of his home.

Jefferson surprised Democrats last week by handily winning reelection in a Dec. 9 runoff. The Congressional Black Caucus reacted to the win by calling on Pelosi to restore his seat on Ways and Means.

Pelosi also announced several new members to the coveted Appropriations panel, including Rep.-elect Ciro Rodriguez (Texas) who won a runoff against Rep. Henry Bonilla (R-Texas). Others named to the spending panel are: Reps. Ben Chandler (Ky.), Michael Honda (Calif.), Barbara Lee (Calif.), Betty McCollum (Minn.), Tim Ryan (Ohio), C.A. "Dutch" Ruppersberger (Md.), Adam Schiff (Calif.), Tom Udall (N.M.) and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (Fla.).

Pelosi also named Rep.-elect Nick Lampson (Texas) to the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Rep. Lincoln Davis (Tenn.) to the Financial Services panel and Rep. Linda Sanchez (Calif.) to the Education and Workforce Committee. The incoming Speaker said she will recommend that Rep.-elects Kathy Castor (Fla.), Betty Sutton (Ohio) and Peter Welch (Vt.) be given seats on the Rules Committee



That was fast work, he only won yesterday :)

[BR_Parkway]

1. Why do we have to alllow him into the caucus at all, can't we expel

him or something?

What a way to start out cleaning up the Culture of Corruption, by seating our own sleaze. I really wish he had been defeated in the run off.

[Greeby]

2. I suspect Pelosi is hamstrung in terms of kicking him out

Because she needs the CBC on board. And they've taken the stance of "He's one of us, we'll back him to the hilt"

[Daylin Byak]

3. The Democrats could expel a party member if they want to

Here's a example. In 1999 on a vote where the House was voting on there Speaker of the House(which would be Dennis Hastert)Ohio Democrat Jim Traficant(who is spending his days in a federal mental institution painting) crossed traditional party lines and voted for Republican Hastert and after that the Democrats stripped him of his committee asignments.

So if a party member does something to anger his said party they can punish him.

[ellenfl]

4. innocent until proven guilty? eom

[seriousstan]

5. Jefferson knows about small businesses. Starting out with only a freezer and 90k.

He grew into a total asswipe, all by himself.