Democrats got tough with Rep. William Jefferson last night, voting 99-58 to boot the corrupt Congressman off the powerful Ways and Means Committee.
Today he was formally removed from the seat by the entire House.
Jefferson, with his $90,000 bribe hidden in the freezer, did more than anyone to undermine the Democratic message of a Republican “culture of corruption.” The legal investigation has almost certainly distracted Jefferson from rebuilding his district in impoverished New Orleans, which should be his number one priority.
Dennis Hastert asked Rep. Bob Ney to relinquish his chairmanship of the House Administration Committee. Allan Mollohan gave us his seat on the House Ethics Committee. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi rightfully understands that Jefferson, nicknamed “Dollar Bill” by his Louisiana peers, no longer deserves the perks of a tax-writing Ways and Means seat.
“Anybody with $90,000 in your freezer, you have a problem with this Caucus,” Pelosi said after the vote.
Jefferson and his allies shamelessly tried to make this debate about race. But it’s really about basic standards of decency–and important electoral considerations. If Democrats want to detox the House in November, they need to clean up their own house first.
