Does This Mean We Can’t Start Bouncing Checks Again?

House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL) and Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-TX) sought to change House ethics rules, but were forced to abandon the plan after growing dissension among rank-and-file Republicans. They were concerned about the message the rule changes would send to constituents. Wow, there are sensible Republicans. Who knew?

The rule changes proposed by Hastert and DeLay would have made it more difficult for House members to discipline their colleagues, and also would have eased the restrictions on relatives of Representatives and Senators accepting trips from lobbying groups. Why bribe just the Members of Congress, when you also can bribe their families too?!

But alas, they backed off from implementing the rules, ruining OTP’s fun. Shoot, they even reversed their decision on a rule that I ranted about recently that would have allowed DeLay to continue as majority leader if he was indicted.

What’s with the sudden sense and sensibility? Apparently, many constituents explained to them that it would be a dumbass idea to become more corrupt.

However, before you go thinking that Republicans have seen the light, they did pass a rule that would curtail the number of inquiries by the ethics committee by requiring a majority vote for an investigation to proceed. Under current rules, if the evenly-divided ethics panel is deadlocked, the investigation is turned over to a subcommittee after 45 days.

Also, Hastert is seeking to replace House ethics committee Chairman Joel Hefley (R-CO) because he is annoyed by his independence. He had the gall to vote to rebuke DeLay for various ethical violations.

House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL) wants to replace Hefley with Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX), who no doubt will be objective, considering he has contributed to DeLay’s defense fund.