Rep. Calvert overcame ethics cloud to nab committee seat

Although the House Republican Conference yesterday ratified Rep. Ken Calvert (R-Calif.) as its choice to replace Rep. John Doolittle (R) temporarily on the House Appropriations Committee, Calvert faced stiff opposition from conference members concerned that ethics allegations against him could hurt the party.

According to a Republican inside the room, Rep. Ray LaHood (R-Ill.) encouraged members to “not go back,” reminding them of the heavy toll ethical scandals took during the 2006 election cycle.

{mosads}“We lost the last election because of corruption,” LaHood reportedly said.

LaHood confirmed that he spoke out against Calvert during the Steering Committee meeting yesterday, saying his 25 years in the House — 12 as a staff member and 13 as a lawmaker — were factors in his objection.

“I care a lot about the House of Representatives, I care a lot about our members and once someone is ethically challenged and gets in trouble it effects all of us,” he said. “I appreciate the high ethical standards that [Boehner] has set … but I believe the bar was lowered today when our conference chose to vote Ken Calvert onto the Appropriations Committee.”

Prior to the selection, questions had been raised as to whether Calvert should be appointed to the committee because of allegations that he helped to facilitate the passage of an earmark that benefited him financially. The lawmaker has denied any wrongdoing.

A second Republican present at the meeting reminded members that while they may support Calvert, the Democrats could force a vote on the floor before Calvert could be placed on the committee.

Republicans successfully have kept Rep. William Jefferson (D-La.) from assuming a position on the Homeland Security Committee by demanding the full House vote on the measure, rather than allowing the approval of his appointment through unanimous consent.

Boehner said yesterday he was not concerned about the allegations against Calvert.

“These baseless allegations have been refuted by his local papers and, frankly, by himself,” Boehner said, adding that the earmark issue was discussed thoroughly in the Steering Committee meeting and yesterday’s conference meeting.

In an interview yesterday, Calvert denied any wrongdoing.

“The property I owned is 16 miles away from where an earmark was planned,” Calvert said.

“I never personally directed an earmark,” he said. “At the time this came out, people were looking for [questionable earmarks]. I guess was the best they could find.”

Calvert cited an editorial printed in the Press Enterprise, which called the allegations against the lawmaker “flimsy” and said the original report “poorly serves the search for real congressional malfeasance.”

Another Republican present during the Steering Committee meeting said members grilled Calvert for an hour and a half, while other committee appointments sailed through the body.

 “He was [questioned] more than anything he could undergo with any lawyers,” the member said. “If there was any creditability to the accusations we would have given the seat to someone else.” Others present remained skeptical.
“Bob Ney told me he didn’t golf,” a member said flatly, referring to former Rep. Bob Ney (R-Ohio), who emphatically told colleagues for months that he was innocent until he was indicted and sent to prison last year.

Rep. Buck McKeon (R-Calif.), who supported Calvert, said he reminded members during conference that when he came to Congress in 1992, it was the Democrats who were under ethical scrutiny.

“We’ve allowed them to turn this around on us,” he said.

Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.), who was passed over for the position, said he was well aware that it was likely the seat would go to the California Republican and he faced an uphill battle for a place on the panel.

“I respect how important California is,” Wilson said. “Orange country is about the size of my state.” He added, “I respect the California delegation and Steering Committee’s decision.”

The 28-member Republican Steering Committee includes members of leadership, representatives from the National Republican Congressional Committee and members from each region around the country. Each member gets one vote, while the minority leader and whip receive five and two respectively.