Groups Ask DoJ to Investigate GOP Medicare Vote Bribes

The congressman, retiring Rep. Nick Smith of Michigan, has declined to say who made the offers he said involved "extensive financial" support for his son's campaign to replace him in the U.S. Congress. Smith stuck to his guns and voted no.

The Campaign Legal Center, a public interest group headed by a former chairman of the Federal Election Commission, Trevor Potter, requested a Justice Department probe on Wednesday and also asked the U.S. House of Representatives ethics committee to investigate.

The Democratic National Committee made a similar request.

Acting Deputy Attorney General James Comey told reporters he had not yet received the requests but that as a matter of routine the department would "read it carefully and make an evaluation."

"We will review the letter," Justice Department spokesman Mark Corallo added.

Smith was among a number of conservative Republicans who opposed the $400 billion Medicare bill, which passed the House on Nov. 22 on a 220-215 vote. The tally followed an unusually prolonged roll call during which reluctant members were targeted to switch from "no" to "yes."

"Because the (Republican) leadership did not have the votes to prevail, this vote was held open for a record two hours and 51 minutes as bribes and special deals were offered to convince members to vote yes," Smith wrote in a column he sent to newspapers in his state the following week.

Smith said he was targeted by lobbyists and Republican leaders and that Health and Human Service Secretary Tommy Thompson made a personal appeal for him to vote for it.

"Other members and groups made offers of extensive financial campaign support and endorsements for my son Brad who is running for my seat," Smith wrote.

"They also made threats of working against Brad if I voted no," he added.

John Feehery, a spokesman for House Speaker Dennis Hastert, an Illinois Republican, said Republicans made the case for the bill on the grounds it was "good policy."

At the Campaign Legal Center, Potter said he was hopeful the Justice Department would investigate. "I have never seen an allegation this direct" in tying a vote to a campaign contribution.

But Democratic Party Chairman Terry McAuliffe, in his letter to Attorney General John Ashcroft requesting a probe, said he was not optimistic it would be pursued. (Additional reporting by Deborah Charles)


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