DeLay’s wrongdoings give Congress a bad name

America has been “DeLayed,” but not for long.

Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay is surrounded by
controversy amid accusations of money laundering and illegal use of
corporate contributions.

DeLay, who is known as “The Hammer” for his forceful
persuasive tactics, is denying these accusations, but evidence
points to a guilty verdict for this congressman.

A grand jury in Travis County, Texas didn’t seem to
sympathize with DeLay and indicted him on counts of what the
Washington Post describes as “criminally conspiring with two
political associates to inject illegal corporate contributions into
the 2002 state elections.”

The good ol’ Lone Star State happens to have a
102-year-old law addressing such contributions. It can be found in
subchapter D of Chapter 253 of the Texas State Election Code.

The law requires that all financial contributions received be
spent to “finance the establishment or administration of a
general-purpose committee.”

DeLay was the chairman of a political action committee called
Texans for a Republican Majority. The committee allegedly collected
financial contributions as high as $190,000 and used these funds to
support Republican candidates, which goes against the Texas
law.

DeLay is not unfamiliar with the spotlight of scandal. In 1999,
the House Ethics Committee chastised DeLay when he reportedly
intervened and threatened legislative retaliation if a certain
trade group hired a Democratic congressman.

In October 2004, DeLay was admonished three times by the ethics
committee. One of the admonishments pertained to a fundraiser DeLay
hosted for energy company officials while Congress was considering
major energy legislation.

A fourth matter the ethics committee decided not to pursue dealt
with corporate contributions used to fund races in Texas.
Subsequently, this would evolve into the recent indictment of DeLay
and his allies.

DeLay was recently forced to step down as majority leader, but
more should be done. DeLay has a shady history that reflects who he
is as a person and as a political machine.

It seems he is willing to do anything to push his agenda, even
if it means breaking the law.

The House Ethics Committee has questioned DeLay’s actions
on at least four separate occasions ““ an unacceptable number
for a congressman.

The House of Representatives is an elite group of public
servants, and a man like DeLay doesn’t deserve to be included
in that elite. He should be removed from Congress altogether so the
terms “congressman” or “congresswoman”
maintain their value.

Corrupt and immoral politicians such as DeLay do not deserve to
serve as representatives for any American.

We should all be aware of what is going on in our government and
take action against illegal activities by holding crooked and
dishonest politicians accountable.

This “Hammer” of a man has finally been nailed, and
in the coming months, if and when DeLay is found guilty, justice
will be served.

Melgar is the media relations director for Bruin Democrats
and a first-year political science student.