DeLay Takes Over Cunningham’s Spot On Appropriations Committee
By on Jan 9th, 2006 at 8:33 am
DeLay Takes Over Cunningham’s Spot On Appropriations Committee
When DeLay announced his official resignation on Saturday, he also announced he was “reclaiming” his seat on the powerful Appropriations Committee.
Why is there a seat available? From the San Diego Union Tribune, 12/10/05:
A vacancy on the panel occurred earlier this week when Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham, R-Rancho Santa Fe, formally resigned from Congress after pleading guilty to charges that he accepted bribes from defense contractors.
Should be a smooth transition.
(HT: Firedoglake)
UPDATE: Contractor Brent Wilkes, named as “co-conspirator No. 1″ in Cunningham’s plea agreement, has given $30,000 to DeLay, “who flew on Wilkes’ jet several times and has been a frequent golfing buddy.”
Sort Comments By: Top Rated | Date
55 Responses to “DeLay Takes Over Cunningham’s Spot On Appropriations Committee”
View Most Popular
Advertisement
What We're About
What We're Fighting For
What We're Fighting Against
Featured
Subscribe to the Progress Report
Topic CloudView topics sorted by popularity
Bachmann
Beck
Boehner
Bush
Bush Legacy
Cheney
Civil Rights
Congress
DADT
Economy
Energy
Environment
Ethics
Fox News
Franken
Global Warming
Guantanamo
Health Care
International Relations
Iran
Iraq
Justice
Krauthammer
Kyl
LGBT
Limbaugh
McCain
Media
Military
O'Reilly
Obama
Palin
Public Plan
Race
Radical Right
Rove
Sanford
Sotomayor
Steele
Supreme Court
Terrorism
ThinkProgress
Tiller
Torture
Women's Rights
Visit Our Affiliated Sites
Reports
In-depth studies on select topics
Got a hot tip?
Have a hot news tip? We'd love to hear from you. Use the form below to send us the latest.
ArchivesBlog Roll
Was it Crosby,Stills and Nash who said if you can't be with the one you love,love the one you're with? It's nice to see a legislator settle for the purse strings instead of the purse.
January 9th, 2006 at 8:40 amOY! So he's still shoveling blood money in exchange for favors, it's just a whole lot more now and it's TAX PAYER money instead of Russian oil companies.
January 9th, 2006 at 8:41 amHe has no shame. None.
January 9th, 2006 at 8:48 amOnce again, we see that doing America's business isn't as important as circling the wagons and keeping the hogs at the trough.
The only positive thing one can hope for is that he'll be too distracted to cause too much damage while he's there. But he's a conniving bastard, so it's more likely the malevolence that is the core of his character will continue to contaminate the Committee.
January 9th, 2006 at 8:49 amDeLay, Saturday: ‘I still have a lot to contribute to the Houston-Galveston area.’
I guess that appropriations committee post will help no end.
January 9th, 2006 at 8:53 amJesus! replacing one crook with another... this like that committee that Santorum's heading...
January 9th, 2006 at 9:06 amNo worries, y'all. He wont be around much longer. If Abramoff said he could wipe out 60 congressman, what are the chances that his best friend, former boss, former point-man Delay's NOT one of them?
January 9th, 2006 at 9:43 amYep, they have no shame. They are blatant in their greed, and sleaze. Simply play musical chairs and keep the power, as they are individually hauled into court.
January 9th, 2006 at 9:46 amOne last caper before he heads for the trash heap of disgraced public power brokers...
My question is, why are his colleagues allowing it?
January 9th, 2006 at 9:55 am"Mojo...fading. Must...seek...alternate...power...supply."
January 9th, 2006 at 9:56 amHe shouldn't be allowed anywhere near that position. Impeach the bastards.
January 9th, 2006 at 10:01 amwhoever in washington that doesn't raise objections to this in the wake of all that's been happening needs to be seriously questioned! every democrat should be on record against this vile, corrupt move
January 9th, 2006 at 10:05 amre: #5: Corrected quote below.
"I still have a lot to steal from the Houston-Galveston area."
January 9th, 2006 at 10:07 amI'm surprised that the decision to take the Appropriations Committee seat is his alone to make. I would think that when they elect themselves a new Majority Leader and, hopefully, a new Speaker, too, that it might be up to them which committees DeLay will sit on.
Since DeLay represents the district containing NASA (at least until the illegally gerrymandered district gets re-drawn again), I hope he sends as much money as possible to them. He claims to be a fan of space exploration; let's see if he'll live up to that. (Until he's removed from that committee.)
January 9th, 2006 at 10:08 amPunchy got it right, replace on crook with another, Freep this poll at cnn 'should dems. filibuster alito. http://www.cnn.com/
January 9th, 2006 at 10:10 amWhy does it appear that the Republican leadership is so TONE DEAF? The guy gets the "official" boot from his Majority Leader post because of corruption, and they put him in this post?
If they are trying to give Democrats a victory in every race they face, they're going about it the right way. My hope is they keep it coming....
January 9th, 2006 at 10:17 am"I've got a lot more appropriatin' to do". - Tommy D
January 9th, 2006 at 10:23 amIt's clearly a provocation.
The modern Republican/Theofascist Party is all about making enemies.
Without enemies they are nothing.
January 9th, 2006 at 10:23 amSince DeLay represents the district containing NASA (at least until the illegally gerrymandered district gets re-drawn again), I hope he sends as much money as possible to them. He claims to be a fan of space exploration; let’s see if he’ll live up to that. (Until he’s removed from that committee.)
Comment by Wayne A. Schneider
DeLay: Congress Approves NASA Funding
House Passes NASA Authorization Conference Report
Washington, Dec 17, 2005 -
Congressman Tom DeLay (R-Sugar Land) today said the passage of the NASA Authorization Conference Report will meet NASA’s immediate and long-term needs, putting in place the policies needed for NASA to accomplish President Bush’s vision for space exploration. The authorization conference report passed the U.S. House of Representatives by unanimous consent.
“This conference report sets NASA’s course by relying on the NASA family to accomplish the clear, ambitious, and defined vision laid out by President Bush,†said DeLay. “That course will not only make good on President Bush’s vision for space exploration, it will make good on the brave and brilliant capabilities of the men and women of America’s space program.â€
DeLay has been a leading advocate for the NASA Authorization Bill and served as a conferee in negotiating the final bill between the House and Senate. The legislation marks the first piece of major legislation since President Bush announced his vision for space exploration in January, 2004. The authorization will fully fund all aspects of NASA, in particular the space shuttle, the build-out and assembly of the International Space Station, and the Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV) and Crew Launch Vehicle.
Tom does a good job for us down here and regardless of the attacks by the Left Wing Hate Mongers he'll get anything he asks for from the Republican leadership and his Texas constituents, including re-election.
January 9th, 2006 at 10:24 amIt dont bother IrightI one bit that all Delay is doing is announcing his desire to get in on some of the graft money.
January 9th, 2006 at 10:32 am#13 - Wish it were so. He'll be stealing from the other 98% of America to buy his re-election in Texas.
Instead of Abramoff-sourced handouts to get Congressmen to vote the right way, he'll be raiding the federal coffers direct to get Texans to vote for him.
Basically the same process, just a different trough and pork rather than PAC contributions to get things done.
January 9th, 2006 at 10:35 am#19
January 9th, 2006 at 10:46 amCome on I-R-I, you can still love NASA and hate DeLay's corrupt, sorry a**. Quit carrying water for that motherscratcher. It's a travesty that Hubble funding is being gutted while a second (pork-laden) moon program is in the works.
#19 - anything he asks - that is the problem. He is a piece of crap.
-What do you think, IRI, about his lawsuit prior to his embracing torte reform?
-What about Delay's switch on Shaivo when he himself pulled his father's plug?
-What about him calling you a wacko?
January 9th, 2006 at 10:51 am#22 Good points, M. Duchamp,
I should have specified that they get the money they need to do the things they want, not some crazy ideas that the President has.
And I hope whoever defeats him in Nov 2006 will take care of NASA at least as well as Mr. Delay did, including funding for the Hubble.
January 9th, 2006 at 10:51 amIRI, you trolls that defend someone who thinks you are a wacko moron is why America is becomming dumber. It is actually a nation in regression.
Delay? Really? Defending every single republican, no matter how evil, is unAmerican and clearly shows you are so extremely biased as to not even really have an opinion. You merely parrot.
You are not a good missionary for us. How will you recruit people this way? You aren't any good at anything are you?
January 9th, 2006 at 10:54 amdon't feed the trolls, Delay is corrupt to the bone, and this action further demonstrates just how blatent he is and how low he thinks of the american public and the dems (where are they!!!???) this should be another nail in the coffin for when the dems take control in the upcoming elections, but WTF - where are they, when will they speak out and stand up!
January 9th, 2006 at 10:55 am#22 They don't want to find anything that might disrupt their beliefs in Noah's Ark. What closed minded dolts.
January 9th, 2006 at 10:55 am#19 - anything he asks - that is the problem. He is a piece of crap.
-What do you think, IRI, about his lawsuit prior to his embracing torte reform?
-What about Delay’s switch on Shaivo when he himself pulled his father’s plug?
-What about him calling you a wacko?
Comment by progressive and proud
I'm not up on any of those issues PP. If you've got a link I'll read them and before you charge me with ignorance let's just say that so many charges against Republicans have a way of being ignored since we know from whence they proceed. In any case the proof that DeLay is an effective leader for the Republicans is found in the degree of animosity from the Left. You just can't argue with that kind of success.
January 9th, 2006 at 10:59 amim-a-complete-idiot-iiii
guy, the polls I've seen from Delay's district seem to indicate he isn't going to win re-election there. You gotta stop drinking on Monday mornings. Football's way over.
January 9th, 2006 at 11:06 am#19
Come on I-R-I, you can still love NASA and hate DeLay’s corrupt, sorry a**. Quit carrying water for that motherscratcher. It’s a travesty that Hubble funding is being gutted while a second (pork-laden) moon program is in the works.
Comment by M. Duchamp
It's my opinion DeLay is not as sorry or corrupt as most who make the charges. If facts come to the fore that I'm wrong then I say hang his ass, but not until then.
I don't know much about the Hubble program except that it is very expensive and the telescope has some serious technical problems. I do love those pictures though and would like to see more of them. As far as another moon shot goes, I'm all for it. In fact I'd like to see the USA have a permanent base on the moon. It's one thing to look at the stars, quite another to go out walking around among them.
January 9th, 2006 at 11:07 amThe repubs didn't want to lose time training Cunningham's replacement, so Delay can fill the chair and operations continue as normal.
January 9th, 2006 at 11:16 amSouthwest Bob said:
The repubs didn’t want to lose time training Cunningham’s replacement, so Delay can fill the chair and operations continue as normal.
Correction:
January 9th, 2006 at 11:22 amThe repubs didn’t want to lose time training Cunningham’s replacement, so Delay can fill the chair and corruption continues as normal.
Someone flunked ethics.
January 9th, 2006 at 11:23 amHe claims to be a fan of space exploration; let’s see if he’ll live up to that.
Comment by Wayne A. Schneider #14
Wayne,
Believe me, the ONLY "space" this crooked bast*rd is concerned with is somewhere in Sugarland,TX...
January 9th, 2006 at 11:28 amTom does a good job for us down here and regardless of the attacks by the Left Wing Hate Mongers he’ll get anything he asks for from the Republican leadership and his Texas constituents, including re-election.
Comment by I-RIGHT-I #19
Told ya!
January 9th, 2006 at 11:29 am#4 big papa,
Don't anyone misunderstand me, I'm happy as hell that he's stepping down. He is extremely corrupt. Despite what someone posted earlier, DeLay is more sorry and corrupt than me (the one making the charges.)
And I can't for the life of me understand how one could conclude that because so many people dislike him, he must be very effective at his job. I suppose one could think that if one thinks that Delay's job was to screw over as many people from the opposition party as possible. But that would mean putting party loyalty ahead of loyalty to the country, and that's a clear violation of House Ethics Rules.
January 9th, 2006 at 11:48 am#36 should have started with #34 big papa
January 9th, 2006 at 11:50 amSorry for the typo.
And I can’t for the life of me understand how one could conclude that because so many people dislike him, he must be very effective at his job. I suppose one could think that if one thinks that Delay’s job was to screw over as many people from the opposition party as possible.
Comment by Wayne A. Schneider #36
That's just it Wayne,
That's the unevolved, phallocentric inbred philosophy. Win at all costs, no matter what the consequences. Just win!!!!
They won...
January 9th, 2006 at 12:18 pmWhat's the real tragedy is that most of us are moderates who lean a little to the left or right on various issues. If we all sat down at a table, face-to-face, we'd realize that we probably agree, at least in principle, on 98% of most issues. Unfortanely, people who are probably decent and patriotic are willing to overlook corruption and crime for the sake of party loyalty.
January 9th, 2006 at 12:47 pmThey won…
Comment by big papa — January 9, 2006 @ 12:18 pm
...THIS time. Maybe. They may have won some battles over the last decade, but they haven't won the war, not yet.
We have to find a way to educate people about how the conservatives in power use lies, distortions and manipulations of facts to confuse people into thinking that conservatives are right ansd we're wrong. We have to show people that the conservative philosophy for government is really anti-thetical to the ideas behind what America is supposed to be about. We have to point out to people how the belief that huge profits are the most important thing a company can produce has hurt the average American, rather than helped them. We have a lot of educating to do, but I am not sure what's the best way to go about it, other than telling people about sites like this one.
January 9th, 2006 at 12:51 pmDelay was a pest control exterminator in Texas, so he should go back to spraying pesticides for roaches and tenting houses for termites! Since he has been a crook in DC, it make me wonder if he overcharged people for his pest control services?
January 9th, 2006 at 1:21 pmDeLay was on the Appropriations Committee before. He took a leave from the committee when he became majority leader, but his seniority continued to accrue. He does not need the Cunningham vacancy to reclaim his seat. He will be the fifth-ranking Republican, and eligible to claim a subcommittee chairmanship -- i.e., become a "Cardinal." Many members of Congress would consider this a more powerful position than party leadership, since it is direct control of pork.
January 9th, 2006 at 2:08 pm#42, Mark,
January 9th, 2006 at 2:14 pmI learn something every day. That clearly explains why Delay can step right in without any problem.
#42, Mark,
Thanks for the explanation. I did not realize that he had the seat before becoming majority leader. (I guess that explains the "re-claiming" remark.)
Appropriations is a very powerful committee to get on, so it's not surprising that someone so unethical and power-hungry would want it so badly.
If there's anyone out there from Sugarland, TX, we need you to do your country a great service and vote this guy out next November. The harm he's doing your country is far out-weighing the good he's doing your district. Please, vote him out.
January 9th, 2006 at 2:40 pmAppropriations is a very powerful committee to get on, so it’s not surprising that someone so unethical and power-hungry would want it so badly.
Well ... I'm neither unethical nor power-hungry and I'd love to sit on that committee. ;-)
January 9th, 2006 at 3:05 pmI can't understand why everyone thinks Delay is guilty?
I mean just because eight grand juries have indicted him so far...at least he hasn't lost his seat or senoirity yet.
How long is Delay gonna push for an expedited trial? How many US representatives have won a campaign while under indictment (or after being convicted)? If he stepped down now Reps might have time to field a replacement candidate for November.
January 9th, 2006 at 3:07 pmAppropriations is a very powerful committee to get on, so it’s not surprising that someone so unethical and power-hungry would want it so badly.
Well … I’m neither unethical nor power-hungry and I’d love to sit on that committee. ;-)
Comment by Giacomo — January 9, 2006 @ 3:05 pm
Same for me, I wouldn;t mind being on it if for no other reason than to take the seat away from someone who is unethical or power-hungry. :)
Certainly nobody associated with the K-Street Project should be allowed on that committee, but the Republicans would have it be the other way around (that you have to be part of the K-Street Project to be on Appropriations or else, what's the point of being on that committee?)
(That's just the way they would like it to be, I'm not saying that's how it is now.)
January 9th, 2006 at 3:20 pmWe have to find a way to educate people about how the conservatives in power use lies, distortions and manipulations of facts to confuse people into thinking that conservatives are right ansd we’re wrong.
Comment by Wayne A. Schneider #40
Wayne,
After these past five years, how could anyone with average intelligence NOT realize this?
Those who do not yet see (and vote Republiscum) don't want to see....
January 9th, 2006 at 7:35 pm"If you’ve got a link I’ll read them and before you charge me with ignorance let’s just say that so many charges against Republicans have a way of being ignored since we know from whence they proceed."
Funny how that works. Criminals, in charge of investigations and ethics committees, don't bother to investigate and uphold ethics. Republicans spent 8 years and $70MM investigating Clinton...how much time and money have they spent investigating Bush?
You are such a useful tool....
January 9th, 2006 at 10:15 pmThere is no honor among thieves. The hogs who still hold
January 9th, 2006 at 10:27 pma seat will turn on the bug man like a bunch of caged rats.
DeLay would be well advised to start packing and call the
movers. He'll sing like a canary which will clear the House
for the '06 elections and the restoration of our Democracy,
the longest lived in history
How is this possible?
I mean...If I've been indicted for breaking federal law, even though it's not proven, would any company hire me until it's resolved?
HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE?!?!?!
January 10th, 2006 at 2:06 amC'mon people, give IRI a break. Its not his fault his father is also his uncle. Houston is so polluted that even if he had half a brain when he was born, the PCB's would have eaten the rest by the time he was 6 years old.
January 10th, 2006 at 7:26 amDeLay: Sometimes You Just Have to Laugh...
From the LA Times (via the Associated Press and courtesy Think Progress), the text of the letter Tom DeLay sent the Speaker of the House, Dennis Hastert:...
January 10th, 2006 at 10:42 am[...] If you guessed Tom DeLay, you win. Mr. DeLay was recently appointed a seat on the appropriations committee - less than a week after resigning as majority leader. If you’ll recall Mr. DeLay was forced to resign after being indicted on charges of conspiracy and money laundering. [...]
February 9th, 2006 at 9:40 pm[...] First, one can say that they hope that what Rep. Murtha says is not true, but given that Murtha is and has been under somewhat of a microscope by his critics ever since he dared exercise his right to free speech regarding a redeployment of the troops in Iraq it is unlikely that he would be making such serious claims without some evidence to back it up. While those that have been accused of alleged crimes in Haditha should be accorded the benefit of the usual innocence until proven guilty; it is also true that until Murtha's rabid detractors can offer up some concrete evidence that Rep. Murtha is wrong they have no basis for their invectives other then the usual unfounded knee jerk reactions ( and hypocrisy). [...]
May 18th, 2006 at 12:24 pm