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By EDIE GROSS and DONNIE JOHNSTON
Area members of Congress are taking steps to distance themselves from the latest round of scandals to hit Washington.
On Wednesday, Rep. Jo Ann Davis' office cut a $10,000 check to a Virginia breast cancer charity, divesting itself of money provided years ago by an organization run by Tom DeLay, the former House majority leader now under indictment in Texas.
And Rep. Eric Cantor, R-7th, has donated $9,000 linked to fallen lobbyist Jack Abramoff to a Richmond nonprofit.
DeLay, R-Texas, stepped down from his leadership post in September after he was charged with money laundering involving campaign funds. On Jan. 7, he said he would not try to regain that position.
Davis, whose 1st District includes Fredericksburg, surrounding counties and the Northern Neck, made the decision to donate the money two days before that. She said the money her campaign received in 2000 and 2001 from DeLay's Americans for a Republican Majority PAC was in no way connected to the current scandal.
"But in our world today, perception is everything, and my reputation is very important to me," she said. "I'm not indicting Tom DeLay. But I want my name to be totally clear and above board."
Davis' office sent the money to the Virginia Breast Cancer Foundation, an advocacy group based in Richmond. Davis, 55, was diagnosed with breast cancer in September.
Cantor has also received money from ARMPAC--$10,000 in the summer of 2000 and another $5,000 in 2002. Cantor's spokesman, Geoff Embler, said Thursday that the congressman was not planning to relinquish money he received from DeLay's PAC.
However, earlier this month Cantor announced that he would donate any money linked to lobbyist Jack Abramoff and his wife, Pamela, to the William Byrd Community House, a Richmond organization that provides services to families in inner-city neighborhoods.
Cantor, whose district includes parts of Caroline, Spotsylvania, Orange and Culpeper, accepted $9,000 from the Abramoffs between 2000 and 2003, according to PoliticalMoneyLine, a nonpartisan service that tracks campaign finance information.
On Jan. 3, Abramoff pleaded guilty to conspiracy, mail fraud and tax evasion and agreed to help federal prosecutors in an investigation of congressmen, their aides and other Capitol Hill lobbyists. DeLay's name has been mentioned in connection with the Abramoff investigation.
Asked about the Abramoff money Wednesday, Cantor said only, "We have returned any money I have received from Abramoff."
Cantor, who was in Culpeper to announce a $150,000 gang violence prevention grant from the Justice Department, did not elaborate except to say that he had not accepted nearly as much money as Democrats say he has.
"Tell the Democrats to go check their math," he said.
According to PoliticalMoneyLine, 99 current members of Congress, two governors and the Maryland Republican Party have committed to returning or donating to charity some $927,996 linked to Abramoff.
Cantor said Wednesday that Congress will address "comprehensive lobbying reform" after it reconvenes Jan. 31.
The Abramoff case is an extreme example, said Davis. In general, she said, lobbyists legitimately help communicate the wishes of constituents to members of Congress.
"It's the American way. People have the right to petition their government by way of lobbying," she said. "Doing away with lobbying is a disservice to many groups. We have to be careful we don't do knee-jerk."
Republican members of Congress will also have their hands full electing a new majority leader to replace DeLay. Those in the running include Reps. John Boehner of Ohio, John Shadegg of Arizona and Roy Blunt of Missouri, the GOP whip.
Cantor, who serves as the chief deputy majority whip, said this week that he favors Blunt for the position. Cantor also said he has enough votes to win the majority whip position if Blunt advances.
Davis said her phone was ringing off the hook with calls this week from supporters of Boehner and Blunt. Shadegg announced his candidacy yesterday.
Davis said she hasn't decided whom she'll vote for, but she's ready to "get back to what we were sent there to do."
"I think we've done a decent job as a Republican Party," Davis said. "I want us to continue to go back to our core values--lower taxes, limited government, a strong national defense--and not be sidetracked by all this partisan stuff."
The abuse of power recently coming to light is limited to only a few individuals and it crosses party lines, she said.
"I am disturbed by the few who are corrupt," she said. "But I want people to understand it's not one party that's corrupt. It's both parties and just a few people. It's a handful of people who have abused their power.
"I think we do need to be held accountable, but for the most part, we're honest people," she said. "People want to single out one party. We need to get past that distraction and on with the people's business."
To reach EDIE GROSS:
Email: egross@freelancestar.com
