Medicare Bill Approval By Bribe?
The Justice Department said Thursday it would review complaints from political watchdog groups that Republican House leaders tried to bribe Rep. Nick Smith, R-Mich., to vote for a Medicare bill.
Smith voted against the bill despite what he described as threats against his son, Brad Smith, who is running for the House seat his father is vacating next year.
Nick Smith said his own party's leaders offered money for his son's campaign if he voted for the bill and that they threatened to support other GOP candidates for the seat if the congressman voted against the legislation.
"Bribes and special deals were offered to convince members to vote yes," Smith wrote in a Nov. 23 newspaper column.
Get the rest of the story from the Associated Press via the San Francisco Chronicle.
UPDATE: Rep Smith says, "No Bribe Offered"
U.S. Rep. Nick Smith (search) has backtracked from comments that Republican House members used bribes to try to get votes for a Medicare bill.Smith said some Republican House members threatened to oppose his son's election campaign unless the Republican from Michigan voted for the bill — but did not offer his son any money.
This just in from Fox News.
Matt's Chat
If true, this is not acceptable behavior from Republicans in Congress. Republicans need to hold themselves to a higher standard. It is vital that our members of Congress vote with their conscience and with the best interests of their constituency in mind not with what they can get out of it.While the independent "investigation" will be a Democratic hatchet job, the Justice Department should check this out thoroughly. I want to know names and what specifically was offered that would constitute a bribe.
Mark's Remarks
Ladies and Gentlemen, this is a non-story....If there were an actual bribe, it would be a story. However, since all that was involved was "we won't support your candidate (in this case, Rep. Smith's son)" this is nothing new. Both parties have done it, and will continue to do so. It is nothing more than people outlining possible repercussions. There was no bribe, there was no real harm done. If this member were so dead set against it, then he should have voted no anyway.
