Washington – In a race framed by scandal, Republican Reps. Roy Blunt and John Boehner pledged action on a reform agenda Sunday as they launched competing campaigns to succeed Tom DeLay as House majority leader.
“We’ve had a tough run recently, some of it of our own making,” Boehner, R-Ohio, wrote fellow Republicans, whose decade-long hold on power will be challenged by Democrats next fall. “But I also believe that if we are able to renew our energy and our commitment to our basic principles, the best is yet to come.”
Blunt, the GOP whip from Missouri who has served temporarily as a stand-in for DeLay, made a similar observation.
“Unfortunately, the recent scandals have caused some to question whether we have lost our vision and whether the faith they have placed in us is justified,” he wrote. “While I have no doubt that it is, it will be difficult to move forward … until we regain the trust and confidence of our constituents by enacting new lobbying reforms and enhanced penalties.”
Blunt and Boehner, Midwestern conservatives in their 50s, moved through the early stages of a hurry-up campaign as House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., pledged to “move forward aggressively and quickly” to have the House address lobbying reform. He provided no details.
The leadership elections are expected to be held when lawmakers return to the Capitol the week of Jan. 31.
Illinois Rep. Rahm Emanuel, chairman of the House Democratic campaign committee, said Hastert’s pledge was “welcome and long overdue.”
The developments came one day after DeLay, under indictment on campaign-finance charges in his home state of Texas, reversed course and announced he would not attempt to reclaim his post as majority leader.
That decision came in response to pressure from fellow Republicans staggered by last week’s courtroom admission of guilt by lobbyist Jack Abramoff.
He accepted a plea bargain that said he had provided lavish trips, golf outings, meals and more to public officials “in exchange for a series of official acts.”
DeLay was not mentioned by name in the plea bargain.
At the same time, court papers said the wife of a former aide to the Texan had received $50,000 from Abramoff as part of an attempt to influence the outcome of legislation.
