ALLEGED CORRUPTION ON HOUSE FLOOR
8 December 2003

Serious questions have arisen as to the methods used by Republican leaders in the House of Representatives to persuade members of their party to vote in favor of the Medicare prescription drug bill. Conservative columnist Robert Novak broke the story, in which Rep. Nick Smith of Michigan, a Republican who voted against the bill, charged that various colleagues and business interests offered large amounts of money to his son's congressional campaign in exchange for a yes vote.

The allegation marks a troubling escalation in procedural irregularities criticized by many observers of the legislative process as developed under the current leadership. Democrats complain they have repeatedly urged the Department of Justice to look into disturbing word of such irregularities, including alleged requests by leadership for quid pro quo arrangements.

On 3 December, the chairman of the DNC sent an open letter to Att. Gen. John Ashcroft, urging him to investigate charges of bribery on the floor of House. The letter cited media accounts, including Novak's column, and previous allegations which went unheeded by the Justice Department.

Representative Smith has since attempted to change the characterization of his charges, saying he never was offered any bribes. The Congressman altered his comments to specify that it was a private business interest, not a member of Congress, who offered him some unnamed, possibly financial benefit. This fact is considered to have little legal bearing on the need for investigation, however, as it is expected that a victim of aggressive coercion might eventually back down from accusations against alleged manipulators. Rep. Smith maintains that Republican leaders have not attempted to dissuade him from his earlier remarks.

Rep. Frank Pallone of NJ today spoke in the well of the House of Representatives about the allegations, among other recently discovered problems with the Medicare legislation. He said the Justice Department is now investigating allegations of bribery and coercion, including the possibility that leadership told Rep. Smith that $100,000 in campaign funding for his son hinged on his vote.

The affair has raised serious questions about the legislative process in the current environment. Democrats have consistently raised objections to procedural irregularities, including numerous post-midnight, predawn votes on major issues. Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA) today declared "this House is broken", citing unprecedented "disregard for the rules" and charging that Republican leaders have used conference committees to "undo the work of the full House and Senate", removing widely supported provisions and adding provisions never passed by either house. [For more: Common Dreams]