CNN.com reports that new Republican House Majority Leader John Boehner rents his apartment from a lobbyist. Boehner, recently elected to that position, is on record as saying that House members should keep those expensive trips paid for by lobbyists. Trips that he himself has been on since 2000 (some $157,000 worth) include ones to Scotland, Belgium and Spain, all paid for by special interests. Boehner claims that such trips are necessary to keep lawmakers informed on the issues before them.
Now I have no idea if Boehner is paying a reasonable rent for his apartment; in fact, I have no idea what a reasonable rent woud be in that area. What I do know, however, is that according to House ethics rules, members are forbidden to even give the appearance of wrongdoing with respect to special interest groups. Tom DeLay, who had to give up the same position in the House that Boehner now hold, was found to be in violation of those same House rules three different times. Yet, the Republicans elect someone who wants to keep the status quo. Maybe there is nothing wrong with electing a man who sees nothing wrong with taking gifts (in the form of trips) from special interest groups to the tune of $157,000, but it sure does give the appearance of something wrong, just as Boehner's apartment rental certainly give the appearance of something wrong. Is this how the Republican are cleaning the House? It looks more like a light dusting to me.

Well, at least Blunt didn't get elected to the position.

Thank the Lord for small blessings -- very small.