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Likelihood of Battle Increasing Over DeLay's Future as Leader
More Republican lawmakers are expected to come out in opposition to Rep. Tom DeLay (R-Tex.) in January, when talk of new leadership will heat up.
(By Pete Silva -- Reuters)
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But by January, opposition to DeLay's return is likely to become more public, LaHood said, as other investigations move closer to the former majority leader, especially that of Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff and Scanlon, his business associate.
"Scanlon, I'm sure, is singing like a canary," LaHood said.
Democrats are pushing legislation to curtail the influence of lobbyists on Capitol Hill, and soon Republicans will feel pressure to join that movement, LaHood and Shays said.
"January will be a time when people talk about new leaders and talk about some reforms to get us back to the party that we were when we were elected to a majority," LaHood said. "I think in January you'll see a lot of courageous people around here. I really do."
Already, GOP leaders are scrambling to distance themselves from the rash of corruption investigations, while circling around the leadership structure. Last night, Rep. Thomas M. Reynolds (N.Y.), who has often been named as a possible challenger in a majority leader's race, said he would not be leaving his post as chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee. House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (Ill.) rushed out a note of thanks.
"If there were to be a leadership race, Tom Reynolds would be considered a very serious contender," Hastert spokesman Ron Bonjean said. "However, he has chosen to be a team player, and the speaker greatly appreciates that."
Meanwhile, Blunt, Hastert and House Republican Conference Chairman Deborah Pryce (Ohio) released statements yesterday denouncing Cunningham's behavior, upon formal receipt of his resignation letter.
"Today is a sad day for the U.S. House of Representatives and Duke Cunningham. How a decorated war veteran sank to the level of bribery and corruption is a personal and public tragedy," said Pryce, deploring what she called "an isolated event."
