Ohio Lawmaker Who Took Illegal Gifts Rebuffs Calls to Resign

PHILIP SHENON
The NEW YORK TIMES
September 19, 2006

WASHINGTON, Sept. 18 - Representative Bob Ney of Ohio, who agreed last week to plead guilty to federal corruption charges, has rebuffed demands that he resign, creating a dilemma for Republican strategists who want him off the public stage before he does any more harm to the party ahead of the November elections.

In letters to the House Republican leadership on Monday, Mr. Ney, who has admitted accepting tens of thousands of dollars- worth of illegal gifts from lobbyists, said he would immediately step down from two House committees. But he made no mention of leaving Congress altogether.

Congressional rules do not require the expulsion of a member of the House or the Senate convicted on criminal charges, which means that unless his colleagues act to oust him or he resigns, Mr. Ney could continue to draw his $165,200-a-year’salary until his term ends next January.

Calls for his resignation have come from fellow Republicans, including the chairman of the Ohio state party, Robert T. Bennett, who said in a statement last week that Mr. Ney had “disgraced his office” and “should resign immediately and begin paying the price for his arrogance and greed.”

Mr. Bennett suggested that if Mr. Ney refused to step down, it would play into the hands of Democrats who would offer “their predictable hue and cry about the culture of corruption in politics while they ignore the wrongdoers in their own party.”

Full article here

“Congressional rules do not require the expulsion of a member of the House or the Senate convicted on criminal charges…”

Why is this? Why do we stand for such corruption in our own government? The man admitted to his crime. It should be automatic expulsion!

“Mr. Bennett suggested that if Mr. Ney refused to step down, it would play into the hands of Democrats who would offer ‘their predictable hue and cry about the culture of corruption in politics while they ignore the wrongdoers in their own party.’ “

When all else fails, point a finger and blame someone else… That’s the ticket! (Don’t laugh, it works for them!)