WASHINGTON – With Rep. Tom DeLay, Texas, formally removed from congressional leadership, House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., on Sunday took the next step in Republican efforts to distance the party from a growing corruption scandal, saying the House will move soon to tighten rules governing lobbyists’ access to lawmakers.
“Over the past several months, I have spoken with many members about the need for such reforms,” Hastert said in a statement. “Now is the time for action.”
Hastert tasked House Rules Committee Chairman David Dreier, R-Calif., to head the GOP’s effort to draft new lobbying rules.
The move comes months after House Democrats, led by Reps. Martin Meehan (Massachusetts) and Rahm Emanuel (Illinois), and Republican Rep. Chris Shays (Connecticut), unveiled proposals to mandate more disclosure of lobbying contacts, ban most lobbyist-sponsored trips and lengthen the time former House members and staff must wait before taking up lobbying.
The move came as federal investigators probing the activities of Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff moved closer to the House GOP’s leadership suites in what promises to be one of the largest federal corruption scandals in decades. DeLay on Saturday said he would not try to regain his House majority leader post, which he was forced to relinquish in September after he was indicted on campaign finance charges in Texas.
Meanwhile, Republican Reps. Roy Blunt and John Boehner pledged action on a reform agenda Sunday as they launched competing campaigns to succeed Tom DeLay as House majority leader.
Boehner, R-Ohio, said he would be the candidate for reform, noting that in the early 1990s he was one of seven members who tried to clean up a scandal in the House’s bank and postal system.
Blunt, R-Mo., the GOP whip who has served temporarily as stand-in for DeLay, told colleagues he was the candidate of GOP unity and “common sense solutions.”
The leadership elections are expected to be held when lawmakers return to the Capitol the week of Jan. 31.
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