[Health&Healing] 2 Months Later, Ethics Panel Investigates Medicare Vote

[Guest guest]

Comments?

Misty L. Trepke

http://www..com

 

Two Months Later, Ethics Panel Investigates Medicare Vote

By Juliet Eilperin

Washington Post Staff Writer

Friday, February 6, 2004; Page A02

 

The House ethics committee is conducting an inquiry into whether

lawmakers offered bribes or threats on Nov. 22 as they tried to

persuade Rep. Nick Smith (R-Mich.) to vote for a Medicare

prescription drug bill, which narrowly passed.

 

The panel's chairman, Joel Hefley (R-Colo.), and ranking Democrat,

Alan B. Mollohan (W.Va.), said this week they are undertaking

an " informal fact-finding " mission that started two months ago.

Democrats have been demanding a probe for weeks.

 

Smith created an uproar last year when he said GOP leaders offered

" bribes and special deals, " including contributions for his son's

2004 congressional campaign, if he would vote for the bill. Smith,

who voted nay, later retracted the bribery allegation.

 

" On Dec. 8, 2003, we initiated informal fact finding concerning the

statements made by Representative Nick Smith on communications he

received linking his support for the Medicare Prescription Drug Act

with support for the congressional candidacy of his son, " the

panel's statement said. Democrats had pushed for the ethics

committee to initiate an inquiry.

 

Hefley said in December that a member could face expulsion if found

to have offered a bribe.

 

House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (Md.) said yesterday he was

pleased " that the committee is conducting an 'informal fact

finding.' This issue was raised by Representative Smith publicly and

widely discussed by him and the media. If it is true that there is

the possibility of criminal and serious violations of the rules and

ethics of the House of Representatives, I hope this matter will be

fully investigated. "

 

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A17162-2004Feb5?

language=printer