Hastert presses for lobbying reform in House

updated 7:52 a.m. ET Jan. 9, 2006

WASHINGTON - Hard on the heels of Rep. Tom DeLay's decision not to seek reinstatement in the powerful post of majority leader, Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert on Sunday announced his plans to press for lobbying reform.

In a statement, Hastert stated his intent “to move forward aggressively and quickly” to have the House of Representatives make changes.

“Over the past several months, I have spoken with many members about the need for such reforms,” Hastert's statement read. “I have been encouraged by the breadth and boldness of their ideas. Now is the time for action.”

“I have asked House Rules Committee Chairman David Dreier to head this effort so that we can have important reforms ready as soon as possible. He will be reaching out to all the members of the House seeking their ideas for reform.”

DeLay, the defiant face of a conservative revolution in Congress, stepped down as House majority leader on Saturday under pressure from Republicans staggered by an election-year corruption scandal.

“During my time in Congress, I have always acted in an ethical manner within the rules of our body and the laws of our land,” the Texas lawmaker told fellow Republicans in a letter informing them of his decision.

Still, referring to criminal charges he faces in his home state, he added, “I cannot allow our adversaries to divide and distract our attention.”

DeLay temporarily gave up his leadership post after he was charged, but always insisted he would reclaim his duties after clearing his name.

His turnabout cleared the way for leadership elections among Republicans buffeted by poor polls and by lobbyist Jack Abramoff’s confessions of guilt on corruption charges in connection with congressional wining and dining.

Waiting in the wings
The race to replace DeLay as majority leader began taking shape immediately, with Reps. Roy Blunt of Missouri, the GOP whip, and John Boehner of Ohio, a former member of the leadership, making clear their intentions to run. Rep. Jerry Lewis of California declined to say whether he would join them.

FREE VIDEO Senators discuss corruption probe Jan. 8: Sens. John Cornyn and Charles Schumer discuss the evolving corruption scandal with NBC's Tim Russert of “Meet the Press.” Meet the Press

Hastert, his own grip on power secure, said Saturday that he expects elections to be held when lawmakers return to the Capitol the week of Jan. 31. That set the stage for several weeks of political maneuvering, and the possibility of a wholesale shuffle in the leadership lineup 10 months before midterm elections.

Democrats, eager to take control of the House in November, reacted to DeLay’s announcement with studied indifference.

“The culture of corruption is so pervasive in the Republican conference that a single person stepping down is not nearly enough to clean up the Republican Congress,” said Rep. Nancy Pelosi of California, the Democratic leader.

Added Rep. Rahm Emanuel of Illinois, chairman of the House Democratic campaign organization: “With the permanence of their special interest philosophy, a change in the Republican cast of characters simply doesn’t matter.”

Democrats must gain 15 seats in November to win control of the 435-member House.

DeLay vows to seek re-election
At a news conference in Texas, DeLay said he had called Hastert, R-Ill., on Saturday to inform him of his decision. “Our success in lowering taxes, creating jobs, growing the economy and providing effective national security was helped by Tom Delay’s leadership,” the speaker said in a statement.

The 58-year-old DeLay, an exterminator before his election to Congress in 1984, said he intends to seek re-election next fall. “I plan to run a very vigorous campaign and I plan to win it,” he told reporters in Texas.

The voters aside, his political future will hinge not only on the outcome of the Texas allegations, but on the future of the Abramoff investigation.

Michael Scanlon, a former DeLay aide and an Abramoff business partner, pleaded guilty in the fall to corruption charges. In court papers, the lobbyist said he had once paid $50,000 to the wife of another former DeLay aide to help kill legislation opposed by his clients.

From back-bencher to leader
DeLay has been a fixture in the Republican leadership since the GOP won its majority in the 1994 election landslide.

An outsider at first, he muscled his way up the hierarchy when he won election as whip over the hand-picked choice of then-Speaker Newt Gingrich, R-Ga.

When Gingrich nearly fell in a coup more than three years later, DeLay went before fellow Republicans at a private meeting and emotionally confessed his role in the plotting. He prospered politically, moving up to become majority leader, the No. 2 post, in 1999.

Contrition was never a quality he displayed to his adversaries — Democrats, outside interest groups and others who sought to check the advance of the conservative GOP agenda he promoted.

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