Hefley’s bill aims for tougher rules on ethics issues
In an interview at his office overlooking the U.S. Capitol, Hefley was asked if he now believes there was retaliation in 2005, when Republican leaders removed him, Hulshof and Rep. Steven LaTourette, R-Ohio, and soon after fired the top lawyers who worked on the DeLay investigation.
“I think there was an element of that. There’s no question about it,” Hefley said.
“One of the things it taught me is, in order for the committee to work properly, you can’t have retaliation for the decisions you make,” he said.
House Republican leaders consistently have denied there was any retaliation, although they were forced to back down from rules changes that critics called an attempt to shield DeLay from further scrutiny.
Hefley recently announced he will end his 20-year run in Congress by retiring at the end of the year. Before he goes, he is trying to address Capitol Hill’s ongoing lobbying scandal by leaving behind a stronger, more independent ethics committee, which is officially known as the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct.
It’s just too bad the few remaining ethical ones all seem to be throwing in the towel. At least Hefley is taking a parting shot.
An Aging Trans Woman 
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