House GOP support growing for picking new majority leader

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/1209delay09.html

House GOP support growing for picking new majority leader


WASHINGTON - Two leading moderate House Republicans told reporters Thursday that the House should elect a new majority leader to replace Rep. Tom DeLay.

Chris Shays of Connecticut and Sherwood Boehlert of New York joined a handful of conservative Republicans who have said they want an election, which would have the effect of permanently removing DeLay from the leadership. One of them, Jeff Flake of Arizona, said Thursday that he "may represent the silent majority" that could gradually go public with the same sentiment.

DeLay, R-Sugar Land, had to step aside as majority leader, the No. 2 position in the chamber, when a Travis County grand jury indicted him in September and October on charges related to campaign finances. advertisement

GOP Rep. Dan Lungren of California, of the conservative Republican Study Committee, said the temporary leadership structure created after DeLay's indictment can't last.