4-20-05, 9:23 am

A survey of Republican members of the House of Representatives reveals that only 20 representatives publicly support House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-TX), according to the Campaign for America's Future.

The survey sent out last week as a formal request for information asked each GOP congressperson if they believe Tom DeLay is 'ethically fit to serve as Majority Leader.'

Meanwhile, a growing number of Republican critics have openly challenged Delay to either resign or to be more forthcoming as to avoid further embarrassment or weakening of the Party. So far DeLay hasn't doesn't seem concerned by this advice, despite sinking popular support. According to a recent CBS poll, Congress is currently enjoying record high disapproval ratings and DeLay's personal disapproval rating among all Americans is the worst of any member of Congress.

Republican Senator Lincoln Chafee also hinted at the difficulties Republicans may face in the 2006 elections if Tom DeLay remains in power and/or under a cloud of suspicion. 'We've got to uphold the highest standards of legality and ethics,'' Lincoln Chafee (R-RI) said Monday. 'You can't have your leader under a cloud. It makes it difficult to run.'

At least two other Republican members have been more quiet and indirect with their criticism. According to the New York Times, Rep. Joel Hefley (CO) and Rep. Dan Lungren (CA) leveled criticism at the GOP leadership over its handling of the ethics crisis during a secret meeting of the Party members last week. Their comments dealt with how badly the ethics quandary was handled, warning the caucus that the leadership had become arrogant.

Hefley added a public criticism in a recent editorial for the Houston Chronicle, DeLay's hometown newspaper, co-authored with House Democrat Alan B. Mollohan (WV), ranking member of the ethics committee. In a slap at the GOP leadership for changing the ethics committee's rules, Hefley and Mollohan wrote, 'we are deeply concerned that they [the rules changes] may spell the end of a credible, effective ethics process in the House.'

Hefley and Mollohan described the work of the previous committee, which had rebuked DeLay three times, as 'calm' and 'deliberative.'

The editorial argued that bi-partisanship has to rule the ethics process, including changing the rules that govern the ethics process, in order to be credible.

DeLay's problems have already pushed the House Republicans into disarray. The tight discipline DeLay is known for imposing, because of his control over campaign funds with deep pockets, is beginning to break down.

In a serious blow to Party discipline, 44 moderate Republicans signed a letter to the chair of the House Budget Committee to reject $20 billion in proposed cuts to Medicaid earlier this month. This request was a serious break with the GOP House leadership's agenda.

Instead, Republican moderates proposed reforms to the program that is used by 53 million low-income people to help cover skyrocketing health care expenses, 38 million of whom are children.

Many Republicans have also refused to sign on to deep cuts in student loan funds and agricultural subsidies.

Additionally, DeLay's leadership quandary has also aided the grinding halt put on Bush's drive to privatize Social Security. Without the full weight of 'the Hammer,' as DeLay is known inside the DC beltway, many GOP members of the House have refused to sign on to the privatization plan.

Meanwhile, Democrats are quietly gleeful that DeLay is putting up such a big fight to keep his position. Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) told reporters last week that he hopes DeLay doesn't quit too soon so that his party can use 'the Hammer' to beat the Republicans up a bit.

Corporate sponsors of the Republican Party, however, are still banking on DeLay's ability to hold power in the Republican-dominated Congress. According to the Washington Post, they handed DeLay over $220,000 in the first three months of this year for his reelection bid. In the 2004 election, DeLay spent a massive $3.1 million dollars – five times is opponent.

Regardless of the outcome of this scandal, corporate special interests presumably will still be able to call in their markers when it comes time for the GOP leaderhsip to put their interests on the House legislative agenda.



--Joel Wendland is managing editor fo Political Affairs and may be reached at jwendland@politicalaffairs.net.