Ethics reversal

Washington, D.C.

The House ethics committee reopened for business this week after Republicans dropped rules that Democrats said were meant to protect House Majority Leader Tom DeLay. Democrats, who hold half the seats on the 10-member committee, had refused to meet unless the Republicans returned to the old rules, which make it easier to bring ethics complaints. Recent news reports have suggested that DeLay may have violated House standards by letting lobbyists pay some of his travel expenses. DeLay said he had ordered his staff to collect his travel records “going back 10 years or more,” and demanded the chance to appear before the committee to clear his name.

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