Simmons distances himself from DeLay, Shays

Rep. Rob Simmons (R-Conn.) issued a statement yesterday insulating himself from the ethics attacks against House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas) while simultaneously distancing himself from statements made by fellow Connecticut Republican Rep. Christopher Shays, who over the weekend asked DeLay to resign.

“I voted against Tom DeLay on changes to the House rules,” Simmons said in a release put out by his office, referring to the proposed rule changes that would have protected DeLay in the event that he is indicted by a Texas district attorney. The statement was released in response to Shays’s comments.

Simmons, who represents a predominantly Democratic district, went on to state his opposition to DeLay on the case of Terri Schiavo, as well as on environmental protection, Medicaid funding, highway spending and labor issues.
He also said, “I am ready to make tough choices concerning Mr. DeLay’s actions.”

But he concluded that “until the House ethics committee decides against him or he admits wrong-doing, I will not call for Tom DeLay’s resignation solely on partisan or personal grounds.”

Patrick O’Connor