Burton 'Postpones Indefinitely' Campaign Finance Hearings
WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, May 5) -- Rep. Dan Burton (R-Ind.) has "postponed indefinitely" Wednesday's planned meeting of the House committee investigating campaign fund-raising, according to a committee source.
Burton's decision came as House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt (D-Mo.) said Democrats would likely "go to the floor" this week with a resolution asking Burton to step down as the head of the inquiry.
Gephardt said Burton has "disqualified himself" from the chairmanship of the House Government Reform and Oversight committee by releasing the Webster Hubbell prison tapes.
The Burton committee was scheduled to meet Wednesday to vote on immunity for four witnesses.
Noting that Democrats have already said they will continue to block the immunity request, one GOP source said, "We're not going to play their game " by holding a hearing which could only serve as an arena for Democrats to pound Burton.
Though the Justice Department has agreed not to oppose the immunity requests, Democrats on the panel, voting along party lines, blocked immunity in an earlier vote. A two-thirds vote is needed to grant immunity, which means Burton must have the support of some panel Democrats.
Adding to the already raw atmosphere, the source called committee Democrats "The President's Partisan Protection Platoon." He accused Democrats of "effectively stonewalling" for President Bill Clinton.
Democrats had previously pondered the possibility of offering Burton their "yes" votes on immunity in exchange for his resignation from the committee chairmanship.
However, Gephardt says Democrats determined that Burton "is not going to listen to what Democrats think."
In addition, bringing the issue to the House floor, rather than to committee, brings a much broader audience to the Burton story, a circumstance Democrats believe benefits them politically.
Burton, flying to Washington from Indiana Tuesday afternoon, is expected to meet with House Speaker Newt Gingrich Tuesday to discuss the entire Hubbell tapes matter as well as the various Democratic efforts aimed at Burton.
Members of the Speaker's staff tried to dissuade Burton's committee from releasing the tapes yesterday. On Tuesday, Gingrich declined to criticize Burton, saying he was in a "very tough arena."
Gingrich repeatedly accused the White House and Democrats of trying to change the focus from crimes and criminals to Burton's behavior and personality.
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