The GOP's Musical Chairs

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is going after Republicans for tapping Rep. Tom Feeney (R-Fla.) to chair the Science subcommittee on space, filling the spot Rep. Ken Calvert (R-Calif.) vacated when leaders appointed him to the Appropriations Committee.

Feeney has been implicated in the scandal surrounding jailed ex-GOP lobbyist Jack Abramoff, whose ties to Rep. John Doolittle's wife, Julie, indirectly prompted the California Republican's removal from the powerful spending panel - Doolittle stepped down after the FBI stormed his northern Virginia home as part of its investigation of his wife's fundraising business.

And, of course, we all recall how members and staff grumbled when leaders tapped Calvert to fill Doolittle's spot on the Appropriations Committee given questions raised by the Los Angeles Times about the Calvert's land deal.

"Apparently, the way to advance in the Republican conference is by being investigated for corruption," asked Jennifer Crider, communications director for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. "Isn't there a single Republican member who isn't corrupt who would be better suited for these jobs? Clearly, Republicans haven’t learned their lesson about holding their Members accountable for their wrong doing."

The Orlando Sentinel had a humorous story this morning about the merry-go-round.