House’s Michel Vows Tougher Ethics Policies

Republican Robert H. Michel of Illinois pledged today to pursue tougher ethics policies as he was reelected House minority leader. The Democrats, meanwhile, voted for the first time to put a black into their top leadership.

Michel delivered a shot at the leadership of House Speaker Jim Wright (D-Tex.), who was running unopposed for a second two-year term.

Wright was assured of reelection to his post by fellow Democrats later today despite an inquiry into allegations of unethical behavior in his personal finances and his handling of government secrets.

“The reputation of this institution has been smeared by members who blatantly break our rules and mock the institution’s inability to enforce a penalty,” Michel told fellow GOP lawmakers, who elected him to a fifth two-year term as their leader. He was unopposed.

Pursuing a Probe

Michel did not mention Wright by name, but made it clear that the Republicans intend to pursue the inquiry against the Speaker that they initiated. The House Ethics Committee is investigating the charges against Wright.

“I believe we must more clearly define our ethics rules, and then we have to enforce them,” he said. “The record of enforcement in this House is a national disgrace.”

The principal contested races on each side were for the largely ceremonial task of presiding over party meetings.

Rep. William H. Gray III, the chairman of the House Budget Committee, won the post of Democratic Caucus chairman over Rep. Mary Rose Oakar (D-Ohio), who has been vice chairman of the caucus, and Rep. Mike Synar (D-Okla.). The vote was 146 for Gray, 80 for Oakar and 33 for Synar.

First for a Black

Gray becomes the first black to climb that high in the leadership structure, according to House historians. If Oakar had won, she would set the standard for a woman in the House.

The hottest Republican race saw Rep. Jerry Lewis of Redlands, Calif., edge out Rep. Lynn Martin of Illinois for the chairmanship of the House Republican Conference, the counterpart to the Democratic caucus. Lewis won in a runoff by a vote of 85 to 82 after Rep. William E. Dannemeyer (R-Fullerton), who was running third in the voting, dropped out following the first ballot.

If Martin had won, she would have broken new ground for a House GOP woman.