As I’ve mentioned on a few occasions, Tom DeLay may ultimately be indicted in one of his many scandals. Because House rules prohibit lawmakers under indictment from serving in congressional leadership positions, Republicans have a difficult decision to make. Choose a new House leader? No, of course not. The choice is whether or not to change the rules.
House Republicans have until noon today to propose any rules changes to inoculate Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas) from losing his leadership position should he be indicted in a campaign-finance criminal probe back in Texas.
Republicans dismiss the investigation by Travis Country District Attorney Ronnie Earle as a politically motivated witch hunt, but GOP internal conference rules are clear that any elected member of the leadership must temporarily relinquish his position if indicted on a felony count that could lead to more than two years in prison.
Earle’s investigation focuses on a group called Texans for a Republican Majority, a political action committee founded by DeLay, and its role in the 2002 statehouse elections.
“We’re in the process of receiving proposed rules changes. The deadline is noon tomorrow, and we have yet to receive any proposals dealing with leadership or their tenure,” said Greg Crist, spokesman for the House Republican Conference.
Ironically, the rule was the result of a Republican effort in 1993 when the GOP was going after then-Ways and Means Chairman Dan Rostenkowski (D-Ill.). Now that it’s one of theirs, Republicans are thinking about changing the rules back. Typical.
It’s a double-edged sword. If Republicans change the rules to allow DeLay to serve while under indictment, the Dems will go apoplectic and, with any luck, actually generate some media attention. If they keep the existing rules in place, the GOP may watch their ruthless and powerful Majority Leader stripped of his leadership role because of a fundraising scandal.
That’s what the GOP gets for tapping a criminally corrupt leader in the first place.