NICK SMITH

The George W. Bush administration was trying to get its prescription drug plan through the House, but when the voting time ran out they did not have enough votes. The Republican leadership, for the first time in American Congressional history would not let the vote end and kept it open for another 3 hours while they persuaded some members to switch their vote. Smith was one of those. He had announced his retirement and his son was running for his seat. Tom Delay promised to support and campaign for his son, if Smith would switch his vote. Cunningham who was being given funds from companies, threatened to finance an opponent and hurt his son’s chances. In addition Cunningham was taking large bribes to steer contracts to incompetent contractors.

The bill went down to a narrow defeat, but the Republican leadership of the House held the vote open for a record setting 3 hours, until they could persuade enough members to reverse their vote. After the 3 hours, the bill passed by one vote. The House Ethics Committee did not see that as sufficient reason to start an ethics investigation.

The bill went down to a narrow defeat, but the Republican leadership of the House held the vote open for a record setting 3 hours, until they could persuade enough members to reverse their vote. After the 3 hours, the bill passed by one vote. The House Ethics Committee did not see that as sufficient reason to start an ethics investigation.