Green, Ryan use weasel words to try to keep tainted DeLay money

At least two House Republicans have figured out how to return money to Tom DeLay, the ethically challenged GOP leader who had to step aside after being indicted on corruption charges this week.

But Wisconsin Republicans' bright lights in the House, Mark Green and Paul Ryan, can't seem to figure it out. It's illegal to return the money, they claim. It's already spent. Bullfeathers.

First, USA Today reports:

WASHINGTON — At least two Republicans in the House of Representatives say they will return money to Rep. Tom DeLay's political action committee now that the
former majority leader has been indicted for allegedly conspiring to violate Texas campaign fundraising laws.

Reps. Jeb Bradley of New Hampshire and Heather Wilson of New Mexico said they would return contributions from Americans for a Republican Majority, the political action committee DeLay started to help elect GOP candidates to Congress. Known as ARMPAC, it is separate from Texans for a Republican Majority, or TRMPAC, which is at the center of the charge against DeLay.

ARMPAC, which has not been charged with wrongdoing, has given nearly $3.5 million to House and Senate candidates since 1998, according to the non-profit Center for Responsive Politics, which tracks campaign cash. It has contributed $250,000 to candidates running for re-election next year.

Bradley, in his second term, was the first to renounce DeLay's money. He said he's returning $15,000 contributed in 2002 and 2004 to "remove any questions that may arise about contributions."

Wilson's campaign committee will give back $10,000 contributed for her 2006 campaign. She isn't returning nearly $38,000 she's received since 1998.

Meanwhile, back in the Badger State, , Green has received more than $29,000 and Ryan more than $25,000 from DeLay's political action committee.

Green's campaign tells the Journal Sentinel:

[Campaign Manager Mark]Graul said Green legally could not return the donations.

"If we wrote a check to 'Tom DeLay for Congress,' we'd be in violation" of federal law, which sets limits on the size of gifts to federal campaign committees, Graul said.

Also, Graul said, "that money has been since spent, so there is no contribution to return."

First of all, the money didn't come from DeLay's campaign committee, it came from his political action committee, so no one would expect a check to "Tom DeLay for Congress." It most llikely could be returned to the PAC if Green wanted to find a way. It is complicated a little by the fact that Green took hundreds of thousands of dollars in federal PAC money, including DeLay's, then laundered it by transferring $1.3-million to his state campaign fund to run for governor. State and federal laws are different -- but where there's a will there's a way.

As for the money being spent, Graun is spinning so fast it's funny he hasn't screwed himself into the ground. Green's campaign has always has far more than $29,000 in the bank, so DeLay's money wasn't "spent."

Paul Ryan didn't handle it any better:

But Ryan said Thursday, "There is nothing to give back; it was two campaigns ago."

"It would be illegal for us to give that back," Ryan added. "I'm not interested in breaking the law, either."

Joe Wineke, Democratic Party chair who called for Green and Ryan to give back the dirty money, checked a little farther. (Surprised that he didn't take them at their word?) Wineke had suggested that if he couldn't return it, Green should give the money to charity, but Green said that wasn't legal either.

Wineke found another legal option for Green and helped Ryan out, too. From a Wineke news release:

Congressman Mark Green misled the people of Wisconsin by saying there was no way he could get rid of the money. Yet, according to Wisconsin State Statutes 11.25(2)(b), Green could give the money to a nonpartisan campaign to increase voter registration or participation. [What is Wineke saying? Green's goal is to keep people from voting, not increase turnout.--Xoff.]

“It’s time to stop the misleading statements, come clean, and return this ill-gotten money,” said Joe Wineke, Chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin. “If Congressman Green really wanted to, he could donate this money today. Mark Green has already given enough money to Tom DeLay by contributing to his legal defense fund. He should take advantage of this opportunity to give this money to an organization where it will be put to good use.”

But the Federal Elections Commission (FEC) said today that campaign contributions from DeLay can be refunded, despite Ryan’s claims that it would be illegal. According to the FEC, a refund to DeLay’s committee would not be considered a contribution, so it would not be subject to federal PAC limits candidates must otherwise abide by during a calendar year.

“Paul Ryan doesn’t need to worry about breaking the law, because the FEC has said it’s perfectly legal for him to return this questionable money back to Tom DeLay,” Wineke said. “Congressman Ryan should show the people of Wisconsin that he doesn’t condone the corruption and scandal that have plagued Republicans in Washington by immediately returning DeLay’s dirty money."