| (Washington, D.C.) - Today, U.S. Rep. Tom Feeney (R-FL) issued the following statement condemning partisan attacks by Democrats following the exoneration of Majority Leader Tom Delay:
"Anyone who knows the Majority Leader knows that he is very serious about getting things done for the American people. When partisan Texas Democrats ignored their responsibilities to the people of Texas by fleeing the state during the legislative session (resulting in a subpoena being issued for their arrest) the situation was transformed from a "political" matter to a law enforcement matter. It was their decision to violate the rules of the Texas legislature and so it was their decision to become fugitives.
"As a former Speaker of the House in Florida, I fully appreciate the important responsibility we accept when we take an oath of office to serve the people we represent. Every Texas public official, including the Majority Leader, had a responsibility to make sure that the Texas legislature could conduct business. Tom DeLay took his responsibility seriously and worked with federal officials to locate the fugitive legislators and bring them to the Capitol to do their duty.
"It should come as a surprise to no one that the desperate leadership of the House Democrats is resorting to slanderous accusations against the Leader - even after he was exonerated by the House Ethics Committee. Tom DeLay has been one of the most effective leaders our party has known and Democrats think that by tying him up with distorted accusations, they can impede the Republican agenda. Tom DeLay and House Republicans will continue to push our positive agenda in Congress while the Democrats continue to manufacture scandals and distort the truth." |