Statement on Ethics Committee Admonishment of Tom DeLay

Pelosi Statement on Ethics Committee Admonishment of Tom DeLay

Washington, D.C.-House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement today on the Ethics Committee's admonishment of House Republican Leader Tom DeLay for improperly bargaining political favors for a vote on the Medicare Prescription drug bill last year:

"The rebuke of Tom DeLay by the Ethics Committee is yet another ethical cloud hanging over the Capitol. Mr. DeLay's offer to trade political support for a vote for the shameful Medicare prescription drug bill is completely inappropriate. This offer of a quid pro quo further taints the Republicans' Medicare prescription drug bill.

"Mr. DeLay has now been rebuked twice by the Ethics Committee for abusing his power - first for the K Street Project, and again last night. He remains under investigation by the Ethics Committee for several serious allegations, including one involving redistricting in Texas.

"Mr. DeLay's continued abuse of power also raises the question as to why the Republicans need the heavy hand of their party-discipline enforcer on critical conference committees - most recently, on the FSC bill and the upcoming intelligence reform legislation. Do Republican leaders not trust their own Members enough to let them do their job?"