Charges of Unethical Conduct Against GOP House Majority Leader Tom Delay Triggers Calls for His Resignation

Interview conducted by Mary Boyle, press secretary with Common Cause, conducted by Scott Harris

As the nation prepares to vote for president and members of Congress this November, the House Ethics Committee issued two admonishments for three recent cases of improper conduct to Republican House Majority leader Tom Delay. The reprimand issued unanimously by Republicans and Democrats on the committee came after a months-long investigation into charges that the Texas representative had offered a political favor to a fellow GOP congressman in exchange for his vote on the controversial Medicare prescription drug bill. Another matter involved the majority leader's inappropriate request for the Federal Aviation Administration to assist in tracking down an airplane used by Texas Democratic legislators to leave the state to hamper a controversial vote on redistricting. Other charges are still pending.

In the wake of the ethics committee report, several citizen watchdog groups and Democratic congressional leaders have called on Delay to step down. But many of the majority leader's Republican colleagues say his continued leadership position may hinge, not on concerns about ethical conduct, but rather on the results of the coming congressional election.

Between The Lines' Scott Harris spoke with Mary Boyle, press secretary with Common Cause, who examines the ethics charges against Tom Delay and explains why her group is calling for the powerful majority leader's immediate resignation.

Contact Common Cause by calling (202) 833-1200 or visit their website at www.commoncause.org

Related links:

Democracy 21 at Democracy21.org Center for Public Integrity at www.publicintegrity.org

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