WASHINGTON — One of three Republicans vying to replace Rep. Tom DeLay (R-Texas) as House majority leader offered rare public criticism Tuesday of House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.), saying he disagreed with key elements of Hastert's plan to overhaul the chamber's ethics rules.
Rep. John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) questioned Hastert's call for a ban on travel by House members and their staffs paid for by private groups, indicating he considered such a proposal "childish."
It is unusual for any House Republican, particularly one fighting to join him in the leadership, to publicly question a move by Hastert. Later in the day, Boehner issued a statement modifying his remarks and saying he supported the travel ban.
Still, his initial comments, made to reporters, reflected a sense among some Republicans that their leadership may have overreacted to the scandal surrounding lobbyist Jack Abramoff that has yet to result in the indictment of a single member of Congress.
"I think there is some sense of that, yes," said Rep. Michael N. Castle (R-Del)., a moderate who supports changes in ethics rules.
Hastert proposed the travel ban as one of several steps he said would help Congress rid itself of the taint caused by Abramoff, who in early January pleaded guilty to federal charges of fraud and conspiracy to bribe lawmakers and Capitol Hill aides. Abramoff is cooperating with a federal task force investigating influence-peddling on Capitol Hill.
In his remarks to reporters, Boehner said: "Some of the proposals that have been thrown out there are childish. A ban on all private travel ... I just don't agree with it."
He added: "We shouldn't treat members [of Congress] like children."
Boehner also dismissed the notion that tighter restrictions on gifts that members may accept from lobbyists -- another measure Hastert has proposed -- would be a meaningful reform. "If some members' vote can be bought for a $20 lunch, they don't need to be here," he said.
Boehner said he believed the best approach was to require more and faster disclosure of gifts and travel.
In his follow-up statement, Boehner said, "Earlier today, speaking off the cuff, I used a poor choice of words to express the reservations about some of the proposals I've heard put forth in recent weeks under the guise of lobbying reform."
He said he had not intended to label the travel ban as "childish," and that he would back the ban.
