GOP Rep. Shays: "My Leadership Doesn't Get It"...

The growing ethics scandal surrounding former lobbyist Jack Abramoff could explode in the coming months and put at risk Republican control of the House, Rep. Christopher Shays, R-Conn., warned today. "There will be bad stories that come out that are embarrassing to Republicans and will cause them trouble," Shays said at a briefing. "I'm holding my breath." Shays, a moderate often at odds with the more conservative leadership, said GOP leaders do not yet understand the magnitude of the ethics problems swirling around the House -- including Abramoff's relationship with Rep. Tom DeLay, R-Texas, the former majority leader. "If I were leadership, I would be very concerned about the next few months and try to understand what's going on," Shays said. "I am very uneasy that my leadership doesn't get it now. They're going to get it in November if they don't get it now."

A longtime proponent of ethics reform, Shays said members have found lobbyist favors "seductive." For instance, he said a former DeLay aide took him out for dinner last year and only after he called the restaurant afterward did he learn that the dinner cost $86 -- more than the $50 threshold permitted under ethics rules. He said he sent the restaurant a check for the cost of the meal. Shays again said DeLay should not return as majority leader even if he is cleared of state money-laundering charges, and his moderate colleagues agree. "Moderates for the most part would believe that having Tom DeLay back would be a disaster," Shays said. He predicted that the House Republican Conference will hold an election for a new leader.