House GOP needs clean break

Entire nation has stake in leadership fight

Published January 20, 2006 at midnight

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House Republicans should thank the Justice Department for persuading lobbyist Jack Abramoff to open the new year by copping a plea.

Without Abramoff's cooperation in a corruption probe, Tom DeLay would still be the majority-leader-in-waiting - which would reinforce the perception that the party is more interested in the perks of incumbency than in responsible governance.

Still, House Republicans must select a new leader. And it's important, for all Americans, that the new boss not look the same as the old boss.

Open, honest government serves people of all parties. And confidence in Congress is plummeting. The last time Congress scored so low in polls was 12 years ago, just before the Republican takeover.

But a 1994-style rout of Republicans isn't likely this fall. Gerrymandering schemes have locked incumbents in office. Democrats would have to pick up 16 seats to win a majority - which Beltway watchers say would be a stunning accomplishment. So the winner Feb. 2 will likely run the House for a while.

Of the three contenders, only Arizona's John Shadegg offers the dedication to principle and commitment to reform that could get his wayward party - and Congress - back on track.

Shadegg is an underdog. Missouri Rep. Roy Blunt, the majority whip, was DeLay's loyal deputy.

Little wonder. Blunt was also thick with the K Street crowd. His campaign committees gave $485,000 to a lobbying firm crawling with Abramoff cronies. Last May, The Washington Post concluded that "Blunt's (lobbying) organization in scope has begun to rival 'DeLay Inc.' "

Nor is Ohio Rep. John Boehner a fresh face. He has floated in and out of the leadership since 1995. To his credit, Boehner has been an opponent of pork, never voting for a federal highway bill. But he refuses to distance himself from the Abramoff mess, which in our view disqualifies him.

For his part, when Shadegg discovered $6,900 in donations from Abramoff's casino clients, he didn't return it to the lobbyists; he donated it to anti-gambling groups.

Shadegg has long championed reform. He introduced legislation last fall that would strip tax-funded pensions from members of Congress convicted of taking bribes. He co-sponsored an unsuccessful bill last year that would force earmarks - aka political pork - to be spelled out in legislation before lawmakers vote, so the public can review them.

He has also tried to forge a consensus with moderates on divisive issues such as immigration and entitlement reform.

The extent of the K Street rot makes it imperative for Republicans to choose a capable, principled leader. Here's hoping Groundhog Day will mark a clean break from the past.

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