Rep. Peter King is pleased with himself after the latest round of House Committee musical chairs has ended without beleaguered Rep. William Jefferson taking a seat on Homeland Security.
King (R-Seaford) has been the most vocal opponent of Democratic plans announced last month to give Jefferson (D-Louisiana) a spot on the committee even as Jefferson remains the subject of a federal bribery investigation.
Jefferson was pushed off the Ways and Means committee last summer, after federal agents raided his office and it was revealed that $90,000 in cash had been found stuffed in a freezer in his home.
King, who chaired Homeland Security until the midterm elections and is now its ranking member, said, “I think I’m protecting the integrity of the committee.”
Democrats are “using Homeland Security as a dumping ground,” King has said repeatedly, arguing that if Jefferson is unfit to consider the tax code he shouldn’t be allowed to discuss contracting, intelligence or counter-terrorism strategy either.
Jefferson represents a New Orleans district hit badly by Hurricane Katrina, and argues the committee is important to him and his constituents.
“Homeland Security is in charge of FEMA and everyone’s aware of the poor job FEMA did with New Orleans, and obviously everyone still has a lot of questions about that,” said Jefferson’s press secretary Remi Braden-Cooper.
King isn’t buying the Katrina case, saying that it would also be inappropriate for Jefferson to consider allegations of corruption in post-hurricane contracting.
Two weeks ago House Republicans threatened to force a rare floor vote on Jefferson’s appointment to the committee. Speaker Nancy Pelosi has not withdrawn the assignment, but there have been no moves to press ahead.
“I think that Nancy Pelosi is in shock over this .
“I think that they don’t really know how to get out of this, and are going to let it die a slow death,” he said.
Will he take credit for his effort if Jefferson does stay off the committee?
“Obviously I’m proud of this,” he said.
Comments (8)
Good for Pete King. William Jefferson does not belong on the House Homeland Security Committee. House Democrats had better start taking homeland security seriously.
William Jefferson doesn't belong in congress period!
Peter King doesn't belong in congress either.
While chairman, DHS ran amok with millions of dollars unaccounted for and very little to show by way of increasing our security.
King was chairman of the emergency preperadness sub-committee and we all know how well prepared the gov't was for katrina.
Peter King is a do-nothing.
king is nothing but the phoney heroes of 911 slave.
see loose change 2nd edit on you tube....
It looks like King has setup a campaign website already. www.peteking.us
Wow, a website up already? King's running scared. Thankfully the Dems are in charge now and NYC will get the homeland security money it needs, no thanks to King.
NASTY LETTERS said:
"Thankfully the Dems are in charge now and NYC will get the homeland security money it needs."
Yeah, good luck with that. Even if the House majority gave a damn about homeland security, it's unlikely that they could ever get anything done about it. Look at the Iraq war - the one issue that the media keeps telling us the Democrats were elected to address. The majority has revealed itself to be the political equivalent of the Keystone Cops.
So far, Congressional Democrats have not shown themselves to be serious about anything except political theater.
Stop the craddle to grave mentality. I am an illegal immigrant who had work and boot strapped myself up the American society. I started off living in Delancy Street in lower Manhattan, coming from a different country, speaking poor English (Whhc I still do), working 6 days a week for a unreported measly $220.00 a week 13 years ago.
No one had helped me except giving me a chance to proof myself a worthy employee. I did not go partying on the weekends and weeknights, I go to school, FIT to be exact. I paid for my own school, not getting any grants, nor book money from anyone, because I was an illegal immigrant. I paid for my own medical care, I was never out of a job for the last 13 years. Now, I am a citizen of USA, a college graduate, I chose to be one. I make middle class income, I moved to middle class neighborhood.
So, for those squealing slacker out there, use your brain, learn a trade, help yourself instead of feeding off of others. Stop asking for help that you do not deserve. You are responsible for your own well being.
I had come from a unfortunate start, but I pulled myself out of it. I have no gulity feeling of saying any of these, because I went through every difficult steps, I was seperated from my immediate family memebers, I had been under paid, I had been discriminated against, I had experienced everything your people cry about, so, I have absolutely no patience for people who feel they are entitled to all the benefits. No, you had not participated in the society, you do not deserve all the benefit you demand without contributing into the society that had been generously hosting you and your family. You are the one that put your own child in this world, you are the one who need to make sure they are well feed and well educated. Not me, not the good people in the society, you are solely responsible.
For People who hates being American, or who think America is a bad country. Look at how many of these America Hater wants to come to the very country they hate. If you had not experience any of the hardship that those lousy countries you adore, you should not praise them. If you feel guilty of your good fortune being in one of the most generous country in the world, why don't you give up everything you own, and do as you preach, give up every bit of your procession, and move to those countries you admired. Just remember, if you beat up your own country, no one in the world will respect you, Even though you think you are better than the rest of the lousy country, you are still part of the country and others identified you by your most dragged country, Stop being so naiive and one sided about the world. If you believe in Evolution, you should understand the very basic idea in Evolution "The Survival of the Fittest"