Mark Green on Leadership

What does Mark Green look for in a leader? How does Green spell "reform?"

The answer is John Boehner. Green voted for Boehner on two ballots today to replace his friend Tom Delay as Majority Leader. Boehner will fill Delay's shoes nicely and pick up right where Delay left off.

Boehner Defends Lobbying, Says Ethics Rules are Sufficient. In an interview on Fox News Sunday, Boehner stated that ".[I]f you look at the abuses alleged, all of them involve violations of current federal law and/or House rules.Adding more rules isn't the answer." Boehner defended his links to lobbyists, saying lobbying is a reasonable way for the public to interact with lawmakers. [Dayton Daily News, 1/9/06]

Boehner Passed Out Checks from Tobacco PACs to Members on the House Floor. In 1995, Boehner distributed six checks from tobacco PACs to members on the House floor. When asked why he did it, a staffer responded, "The floor is where the members meet with each other." [New York Times, 5/10/96]

Boehner Donated to Abramoff Crony Tom DeLay and Representative #1, Bob Ney. Days after DeLay was indicted, Boehner's leadership PAC, The Freedom Project, gave $5000 to DeLay's legal defense fund. The PAC also donated $20,000 to Representative Bob Ney, who has been identified as Representative #1 in court documents relating to the Abramoff case. [Freedom Project FEC Report; www.tray.com]

You remember Ney, he is the guy Green chose to come here and lecture us about campaign ethics at the end of last year.

Boehner took over $32,000 from Jack Abramoff. The Cincinnati Post reports that Boehner received $32,500 from Jack Abramoff and his tribal clients.

Boehner refused to return donations he got from American Indian tribes represented Abramoff, the money went to Boehner's PAC.

And where did the money go? More on that later...

This vote is going to haunt Green.