Urbana - U.S. Rep. Tim Johnson today endorsed U.S. Rep. John Shadegg for Majority Leader of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Congress reconvenes on Tuesday and is scheduled to vote on a new majority leader on Thursday. Rep. Shadegg, R-Ariz., is joined by Reps. John Boehner and Roy Blunt in the race to replace Tom DeLay in the position.

Rep. Shadegg was first elected to Congress in 1994 and is chairman of the House Republican Police Committee.

Rep. Johnson issued the following statement regarding his endorsement:

“John Shadegg has the integrity, character and leadership skills that are vital in returning Congress, not just the Republican Party, to its rightful place of respect in the hearts and minds of the American public.

“As a political party and as an institution, we have strayed from the core values that we were elected to represent. There is a cloud of doubt over this body that must be swept away. John Shadegg is the person to do just that.

“Rep. Shadegg has a clear and bold vision of what must be changed and how. That vision involves recommitting our party to the ideals of less government, returning power to state and local governments and championing individual freedom. Most importantly, Rep. Shadegg is committed to that vision while ridding us of the shadow of hypocrisy and influence-buying that has so damaged this institution.

“Among the changes Rep. Shadegg advocates is reform of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, an act whose looseness led to many of the recent scandals. Loopholes in that act are also what permitted the Miami tribe to try and make a claim on many parts of my district to try and open a casino here. Those claims are still being made and must be stopped.

“I have great respect for Reps. Blunt and Boehner and will continue to work with them as productively as possible. But Rep. Shadegg offers a clear and principled correction to the ethical lapses that have afflicted some within our ranks. The public deserves better. The public deserves a man like Rep. Shadegg.”

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