Dems keep Jefferson off Ways and Means

[Stephanie]

OH OH!


By JIM ABRAMS, Associated Press Writer
45 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - House Democrats, insistent that they will hold lawmakers to higher standards, decided Tuesday that Rep. William Jefferson (news, bio, voting record) will not return to an influential committee until a federal corruption investigation involving him is completed.

Speaker-to-be Nancy Pelosi said the Democratic Steering Committee had resolved that Jefferson, who last Saturday won a runoff election in his New Orleans district, will not be given back his spot on the Ways and Means Committee, the panel that determines tax and trade policies.

The Steering Committee also announced new panel assignments for the next session. The full Democratic Caucus must still vote on those decisions.

At Pelosi's urging, the House last June stripped Jefferson of his committee assignment because of the corruption investigation that included an FBI document asserting that agents had found $90,000 in bribe money in the Louisiana Democrat's freezer.

Pelosi has promised to make lobbying and ethics reform a top priority when she becomes speaker next month, and the Jefferson case has been cited as an early challenge.

Jefferson, the first black member of Congress from Louisiana since Reconstruction, has denied any wrongdoing, and has not been charged with any crime. The Congressional Black Caucus has questioned the idea of punishing him before his legal case has been settled.

While depriving Jefferson of his committee assignment, the Democrats have been mum about another member of the Ways and Means Committee, Rep. James McDermott, who on Monday was admonished by the House ethics committee for violating ethics standards by giving reporters access to an illegally taped telephone call involving Republican leaders a decade ago.

Pelosi must also make a decision about Rep. Alan Mollohan (news, bio, voting record) of West Virginia, who is in line to become chairman of an Appropriations subcommittee that oversees the FBI. Mollohan faces questions about personal business deals.

Jefferson also holds a seat on the House Budget Committee. It was unclear if he would retain that seat in the next Congress.

Jefferson, an eight-term incumbent, handily defeated his Democratic opponent in a runoff election despite the controversy over the federal investigation. He was accused of taking bribes from a company seeking contracts in the Nigerian telecommunications market.

After his victory speech Saturday night, Jefferson said: "I don't try to second-guess Ms. Pelosi. I don't go there to work for anyone, I go there to work with the people down here."
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061212/ap_on_go_co/congress_jefferson

 

[5stringJeff]

Good for Pelosi.

 

[ScreamingEagle]

While depriving Jefferson of his committee assignment, the Democrats have been mum about another member of the Ways and Means Committee, Rep. James McDermott, who on Monday was admonished by the House ethics committee for violating ethics standards by giving reporters access to an illegally taped telephone call involving Republican leaders a decade ago.

Speaking of phone tapping! I'd love to see "Baghdad Jim" finally get his just desserts.

 

[Avatar4321]

Democrats have some major problems. There isnt anyone they can pick, excluding new guys, who dont have tons of corruption or incompetence problems for any of the committees. Or atleast that sure as heck what it looks like.

 

[red states rule]

Good for Pelosi.

Watch for Jesse and Rev Al to be screaming racism!

 

[UnAmericanYOU]

The Congressional Black Caucus hasn't punished Jefferson atyet, but they sure gave him a standing ovation!:

On the same day that the 110th Democratic-led Congress convenes with a plan to immediately pass lobbyist and ethics reforms, the Congressional Black Caucus Thursday gave a standing ovation to Rep. William Jefferson, the Louisiana Democrat who faces an FBI probe into bribery allegations.

"The haters... and negative nabobs...the people who spoke against him couldn't prevail against the people who spoke for him," Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, master of ceremonies for the CBC's celebratory event, said Thursday morning.

Incoming House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-California, led the charge to remove Jefferson from the House Ways and Means Committee last spring and has said she will not consider reinstating him to the powerful post until he is cleared of all allegations.

The FBI is currently conducting an investigation that alleges Jefferson accepted $100,000 from a telecommunications businessman -- $90,000 of which was later recovered in the congressman's freezer.

From al-CNN: http://www.cnn.com/POLITICS/blogs/politicalticker/2007/01/congressional-black-caucus-gives.html

About the first thing the CBC did. Shame on those haters and negative habobs.