GOP reverses course on ethics rules News
GOP reverses course on ethics rules

[JURIST] House Republicans on Monday reversed ethics rules adopted in November that would allow party leaders to maintain their posts even if they were indicted for illegal behavior. The closed-door GOP party meeting did, however, make it easier for one party to block a House ethics committee investigation by requiring a majority vote of the now-evenly divided committee to proceed with an investigation. The ethics proposal go before the full House today, the first day of the new legislative session. In November, the GOP made the controversial decision to change the rule on office-holding so that Majority Leader Tom DeLay could retain his post if indicted by a Texas grand jury on charges related to illegal political fundraising. Over the past year, DeLay had been rebuked by the ethics committee 3 times. AP has more.