Green covers his butt

For one of the first times in memory, Rep. Mark Green, an assistant Republican House whip, voted against his party leadership today, on a resolution calling for an investigation of convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff's ties to House members and their staffs. Green, whose staffers have accepted favors from Abramoff's firm, was one of six Republicans to vote for the resolution.

Of course it was certain that the resolution, offered by Democratic leader Rep. Nancy Pelosi, wouldn't pass. The Republicans didn't need Green's vote, so they let him off the hook and let him vote "right." As a candidate for governor who already has a staffer linked to Abramoff, Green couldn't afford to vote against it.

In the political trade, it's called posing for holy pictures.

The Washington Post's Chris Cizzilli reports:

The resolution was set aside by a vote of 216-193 -- largely along party lines (the Republican majority voted to table Pelosi's proposal). Six Republicans voted with the Democrats: Reps. Jim Gerlach (Pa.), Todd Platts (Pa.), Mark Green (Wisc.), Mark Souder (Ind.), Jim Leach (Iowa) and Chris Shays (Conn.). Gerlach and Shays face tough reelection fights this year, while Green is running for governor in Wisconsin.