Letter: DeLay has history of ethical impropriety

Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2006 | 8:30 a.m.

"I have always acted in an ethical manner," stated Tom DeLay when announcing his resignation as majority leader of the House of Representatives.

He must have the meaning of ethical confused with another word. DeLay's opinion that he "acted in an ethical manner" is contrary to the facts. The House Ethics Committee rebuked him for threatening a trade association, for facilitating a golf fundraiser for his benefit, for misusing the resources of the Federal Aviation Administration, and again for conduct that suggested political donations might influence his legislative actions.

An investigation by the Justice Department concluded that realignment of congressional districts drawn up by DeLay had illegally discriminated against minorities for political reasons.

DeLay pushed his Republican cohorts to change House rules, making it difficult to investigate members suspected of unethical activity. The changes were so blatantly tailored to halt investigations of his activities that Republicans had to rescind the changes due to public pressure.

DeLay's wife and daughter have been on the payroll of his political organizations. They were paid more than $500,000 over two years by his PAC. DeLay has had problems with payrolls in the past. He was served with tax liens three times by the IRS for not paying payroll and income taxes.

It is expected that his ties to his "close friend" and confessed criminal Jack Abramoff will doom DeLay's political future, proving that our form of government will expose people who abuse the public's trust.

However, we must remedy a system that allows such an "ethically challenged" politician to rise to the heights he has.

Phil Ventura

Las Vegas