When DeLay Talks, People Could Pay

Rep. Tom DeLay (R-Tex.), who is no longer running for reelection and is leaving Congress shortly, should do well in the private sector -- as long as he doesn't get convicted of anything serious. The immensely profitable -- ask Bill Clinton -- speaking circuit awaits, along with perhaps a book, teaching, a radio talk show and whatnot.

In addition, he's eligible for a pension of a bit over one-third of his $183,500 majority leader's salary, or about $65,000 a year, complete with health benefits and cost-of-living adjustments.

Five House members have recently introduced pension-revocation legislation for convicted felons, and the House Administration Committee will be taking up that issue among others tomorrow when it considers a lobby reform package.

All five lawmakers are Republicans. Apparently no House Democrat has introduced such a bill. That may be, a colleague suggests, because Republicans can't imagine themselves as scofflaws; Democrats know themselves better.

4-Finger Salute

Loop Fans have been asking why we didn't use the actual photo of Justice Antonin Scalia 's controversial gesture last week to respond to a question from Boston Herald reporter Laurel J. Sweet .

Scalia, leaving a special Mass for lawyers, was asked how he responds to people who questioned his impartiality on church-state cases.

Scalia flicked his fingers out from under his chin in what the Herald's reporter called an obscene gesture and Scalia insisted was not. Experts and members of the Soprano family in Jersey were divided on the issue.

A glitch in the purchase delayed the photo's arrival in time for Monday's column. But the photo of the justice as he completes his courtly response is not to be missed.

The Nearly Departed

If Treasury Secretary John W. Snow doesn't know he's outta there, he might want to study President Bush 's response to a reporter's question yesterday at a health-care meeting about whether Snow is "expected to stay on."

"Secretary Snow is here at the table," Bush said. "He's been a part of this discussion." [Note past tense.] "I'm glad you brought him up." [No doubt.] "He has been a valuable member of my administration [Past tense again.], and I trust his judgment and appreciate his service. [It's been great.]"

Then, Bush almost, almost did it again. " Andrew Card , my longtime friend, a person who will go down in the annals as one," Bush paused, "a really fine chief of White House in the history of the White House." You just know he was going to say "one heckuva" chief of staff.

The Departing

Somebody draw the short straw? President Bush announced yesterday that he has selected Karen P. Hughes , undersecretary of state for public affairs, to lead the U.S. delegation to the inauguration tomorrow of President-elect Thomas Yayi Boni of the beautiful West African Republic of Benin.