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When thousands of people donate no more than $100 per person per election, we can build a campaign without money from special interests. _______________________ But it's about more than money. We need your energy and your enthusiasm, too. Sign up to volunteer on Jim Hansen's campaign for Congress.
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| Hansen demands accountability in Foley scandal |
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| posted on Thursday, October 05, 2006 |
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The scandal involving former representative Mark Foley is another symptom of the corruption and extreme partisanship that has made Congress dysfunctional and far removed from the values of everyday Idahoans, said Jim Hansen, a candidate for Idaho’s 2nd District seat in Congress.
This is the fifth House member to come under scrutiny for corruption and cover-up in the past year. House Speaker Dennis Hastert and Majority Leader John Boehner should take responsibility for their organization and stop blaming the media or others outside the House, Hansen said. Congress should conduct a bipartisan investigation to determine who could have stopped Foley’s possibly criminal advances toward teenage pages and prevent such abuses in the future.
Hansen called on his opponent, four-term incumbent Rep. Mike Simpson, to follow his lead and not blame outsiders for what is clearly a broken House.
“Idahoans deserve strong, open and accountable leadership and to know who knew what and when, even if it means holding Mr. Simpson’s buddies in leadership accountable,” Hansen said. “This is no time to ‘circle the wagons’ to protect a partisan posture.”
Hastert, who knew of Foley’s actions, appears to have allowed partisan politics to override the need to discipline a member of his own party.
“It is not enough to condemn Foley’s actions,” Hansen said. “We must also condemn those who knew he was dangerous and allowed him to continue in the name of partisan politics. If Simpson cannot call for accountability for the same reason, he becomes part of the problem.”
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