April 13, 2005

Washington, D.C. – Democratic leaders in Washington D.C. held a press conference this morning to address the Republican’s abuse of power and its effects on the American people.

House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid, Senator Debbie Stabenow and House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer spoke out in unity against the blatant disregard that the Republicans in Washington show towards democracy. 

“Ten years ago, the Republicans, in their Contract with America, claimed that they had to restore the trust between the American people and their representatives in government.  Here we are today with the radical right-wing Republican majority that is destroying that trust,” said House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, CA.

After winning control of the House of Representatives in 1994, Republicans drafted a “Contract with America”.  In this document Republicans pledged to restore accountability to Congress and to end its cycle of scandal and disgrace.  In addition, the Republicans promised to manage the House in a way that fostered deliberative democracy.

According to a report prepared in March by Representative Louise Slaughter, ranking Democrat on the House Rules Committee, Republicans have abused their power and have failed to follow the very principles that they drafted in the Contract with America.

In Slaughter’s report there is evidence that under Republican leadership floor debate had been muzzled, votes are cast with fear of retribution and legitimate amendments are not heard.   Only 4% of Democratic floor amendments were heard on the floor during the 108th Congress.

Republicans made it their first order of business during the 109th Congress to attack the House Ethics Committee by rewriting many bipartisan rules that were in place to ensure that investigations into ethical questions were taken seriously.  This should have been a preamble to events that would plague the Republican controlled Congress.

It must be clarified that not all Republicans on the Ethics Committee agreed with these changes.  However, the Republicans cleaned house at the beginning of the year and dismissed Republican Members on the Ethics Committee that did not approve of the radical changes.

In fact, the Republicans even attacked the Chairman of the House Ethics Committee Representative Joe Hefley of Colorado’s 5th Congressional District.  At the time of his dismissal, many reports were circulated that Republican leaders threatened Hefley in retaliation for the admonishments of Majority Leader Tom Delay under his leadership.  

The House Ethics Committee admonished Republican Majority Leader, Tom Delay, three times last fall.  Delay was investigated for misusing federal resources for partisan political purposes, offering political support in return for a vote on the prescription drug bill and offering special access to a high donor campaign contributor, Westar Energy.

The overhaul of the House Ethics Committee following the admonishments of Tom Delay is a perfect example of how Republicans abuse their power in order to protect fellow Republicans.     

“Americans are paying the price of the Republicans abuse of power.  Legislation, judicial appointments and ethical investigation are being tightly controlled by the Republicans to benefit Republicans,” said Pat Waak, Colorado Democratic Chair.  “Americans deserve representation that promotes debate to ensure that legislation is being passed with the people of America in mind”.

House Democrats urge the Republican majority to restore accountability and democratic deliberation to the Congress.  Democratic leaders are willing to establish a bipartisan committee that would be responsible for developing recommendations to restore a bipartisan and effective ethics process.