| Democrats had refused to
join Republicans on the committee because of new rules
passed in January that are expected to be reversed later
today. The new rules were seen as protecting House GOP
leader Tom DeLay because they mandated that complaints
against a congressmember be dismissed if no decision
had been reached in 45 days. Under the old rules—and
the rules slated to be put back in force today—no
action by the committee results in an immediate investigation.
RAW STORY obtained
Hastert's letter, which follows. RAW
STORY has also obtained a copy of the Republican
"talking points" on the ethics vote, which
were prepared and circulated even before Democrats had
met to vote on the reversal of the ethics rules.
###
Article originally published Apr. 27, 2005. |
