Will GOP Senators Vote to Expel One of Their Own, Ted Stevens of Alaska?
Even as the outcome of the Alaska Senate race between Sen. Ted Stevens and Mark Begich seesaws, Senate Republican leaders are hinting that a vote to expel the senator convicted of making false statements on financial disclosure forms could come when the lame duck session opens on Tuesday.
A top Senate leadership aide said that a proposal to vote on the expulsion is before Senate leaders but that the back-and-forth nature of the extended vote counting—and concerns about rejecting the wishes of Alaska voters should Stevens win—may derail the vote.
The discussions among staffers laying out next week's agenda occurred before Begich took an 814-vote lead in the race that Stevens had been out front in. If that holds up, it would take voting off the table for the Senate.
As of Wednesday, it was a fifty-fifty proposition that the Stevens vote would come up. However, a public expulsion might be the way to show voters that the GOP means business when it comes to cleaning up its act, say Republican aides.
Top leaders have called on Stevens to resign, but he wants to stay in the Senate to appeal his conviction.
- Click here for more on Sen. Ted Stevens.
Reader Comments
Term limits?
Term limits for Congress would solve this ongoing problem.
Hypocrits?
The Republican Party knows if they do not get rid of Stevens now they will be called hypocrits even by those within their party. Yes, Stevens has many years of service...but my question is whom did he serve? What did he really do for Alaska all these years besides trying to get funds for the bridge to nowhere. We applaud many of our officeholders in both Houses but when it comes down to it---they accomplished very little for their state but much for themselves. It does not matter what Party they represent if they are guilty of a crime or for misrepresenting their constituents they have to go. Both parties need to grow some backbone and do what is needed---unless they are thinking what if...? Stevens knew the rules and did not play by them instead he tried to "game the systems" to see if he could get away with it. He didn't. So, go he must or voters will loose even more respect for the Republican Party.
They were quick to accuse Clinton of lying and even quicker to impeach him...and of all people who was the most aggressive in pointing fingers? None other than Newt Gingrich who was having a love affair while still married to wife number two. See what I mean. Get with it and do what you have to do.
Crooked Politicians
Ted Stevens, Ted Kennedy and all the other many, many crooked politicians in the Senate and especially Congress have no business being there. It is time the honest ones came forward with enough guts to expel the ones that steal from those who trust them to run the country.
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