Houston Democrats

Representative Doc Hastings, chairman of the committee, said his proposal is an effort to break the deadlock of the committee and to refute the charge that the rules were set to specifically protect DeLay's position as majority leader. He said four of the five Republican members were ready to move ahead with an investigation. He stated that the Republicans are "prepared to vote at the earliest opportunity to empanel an investigations subcommittee to review various allegations concerning travel and other actions." Hastings indicated a vote to move forward with an investigation could be held as early as Thursday.

During today's announcement, Hastings emphasized that "this is an unusual and extraordinary step for the committee to take." Hastings supported the rules changes and criticized Democrats for what he called an "outrageous and completely baseless claim that they were designed to protect Majority Leader DeLay" from an investigation by the ethics committee. He added that he expects DeLay to be "very cooperative" and that his offer "is a means by which he can state his case." DeLay responded to the announcement saying he was eager to appear before the committee in order to put the matter to rest.

Also at the news conference were three Republican committee members: Representatives Judy Biggert of Illinois, Melissa Hart of Pennsylvania, and Tom Cole of Oklahoma. Representative Lamar Smith of Texas did not attend.

While Tom DeLay and many Republicans have repeatedly insisted charges made by Democrats were merely partisan and desperate attempts to regain power, other rank and file Republicans were growing increasingly anxious about whether they were simply trying to protect DeLay.

Hastings says he would be willing to put in writing commitments he made to Mollohan on implementing new rules. He offered to extend the time period from a preliminary to a full investigation to at least three months instead of the 45 days before dismissal as specified by the new rules. Additionally, he stated he would not allow dismissal of an ethics complaint without a vote by the full committee. The previous rules would require that such inaction automatically prompt an investigation.

Representative Alan Mollohan, the ranking Democrat on the committee, refused the offer and said Democrats would continue blocking the committee until Republicans agree to rescind the changes on investigative rules adopted by the Republican dominated House, which they maintain curb the ability of the committee. Democrats have called for a bipartisan rewrite of the ethics rules.

Read House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer's response to Hastings' announcement.