Hastert assures DeLay of continued role

WASHINGTON – House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., told Rep. Tom DeLay Thursday that DeLay will keep a prominent leadership role even after his indictment, a pledge that came as the powerful Texan’s departure as majority leader touched off a scramble by other Republicans hoping to gain influence from his absence.

The new majority leader, Rep. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., moved into his new Capitol suite, consigning DeLay to smaller quarters for rank-and-file members across the street at the Cannon Office Building. But Hastert, at an early morning meeting, assured DeLay that his reduced status will not mean sharply reduced influence in running the caucus and setting the party’s course for the 2006 elections, according to Republicans familiar with the session.

As DeLay fights charges that he was involved in an illegal fund-raising conspiracy, Hastert told him that he will be prohibited from attending formal leadership meetings, but that he will remain one of the speaker’s closest advisers. Significantly, DeLay’s large staff will remain on the majority leader’s payroll – working for Blunt, but also in position to keep watch on him.

DeLay, Hastert, Blunt and Rep. Eric Cantor, R-Va., plan to meet Saturday to finalize plans for the new power-sharing arrangement, GOP sources said.

With DeLay’s future uncertain, several members of a new wave of GOP lawmakers signaled their eagerness to move into leadership posts. Rep. Zach Wamp, R-Tenn., became the first to raise his hand, vowing to run for majority whip, the No. 3 leadership post, and to challenge its current occupant, Cantor, if necessary. Other possible candidates include Reps. John Boehner of Ohio, Mike Pence of Indiana and Mike Rogers of Michigan, lawmakers said.

Blunt, a former DeLay protege who has told colleagues he wants to be speaker one day, emerged as the winner in this week’s shake-up – at least so far. But there were clear indications that he is rubbing some of his colleagues the wrong way.

Several lawmakers, who said they could only speak candidly if their names were not used, said the 55-year-old former teacher has a reputation for being too overtly ambitious, and must work hard to win over skeptical colleagues.