Rep. John Bryant, D-Texas, voicing the frustration felt by a number of Democrats in the wake of the House bank and post office scandals, has called for Speaker Thomas Foley to give up his post.
"It is time for new leadership in this institution," Bryant said Thursday in an unusual public call by a fellow Democrat for Foley to step down at the end of the year. He said Foley "refuses to be a political leader."Foley, from Washington state, has come under criticism from some Democrats who say he did not do enough to head off the check-bouncing scandal at the House bank and protect them from the political fallout that threatens their re-election prospects.
Some Democrats complain privately that the minority Republicans have seized control of the congressional agenda.
Foley said earlier he has no intention of stepping down but would not speculate on his role in the next Congress.
Nine-term Rep. Joseph Early, D-Mass., predicted Friday there was a "50-50" chance that Foley would not be re-elected.
Bryant's call for Foley to retire came one day after the House ethics committee formally released the names of the 22 worst offenders among those members who wrote bad checks on their accounts at the House bank.
The names of more than 300 other former and current members who also wrote bad checks is due to be released later this month.
Also adding to the cloud hanging over the House is an investigation of the House post office, where there have been allegations of theft and drug sales.
Responding to questions Thursday, before Bryant's speech, Foley acknowledged that "there is obviously a lot of deep concern in the House over this whole matter" of the bank. "There is nothing new about that," he said.
Bryant, without referring specifically to the bank scandal, said the public is losing track of what the Democrats stand for.
"Why?" he asked. "Because the person with the greatest responsibility to articulate our identity, our agenda, and our direction either cannot or will not do so."