Bob Ney - Congressional Career

Congressional Career

In November 1994, Ney won the Republican nomination for the 18th District after nine-term incumbent Democrat Douglas Applegate announced his retirement. The 18th had a considerable Democratic lean, but Ney scored a considerable upset, defeating Democrat Greg DiDonato with 53% of the vote. In 1996, he was re-elected with 50% of the vote against Democrat Rob Burch. In 1998, he again defeated Burch, this time with 60% of the vote. He won in 2000 and 2004 with more than 65% of the vote, and was unopposed in 2002.

Ney's voting record was considerably more moderate than has become typical of Republicans elected in 1994. He did not earn a rating in the 90s from the American Conservative Union until 2004. He was known for bucking his party's leadership on issues important to his mostly blue-collar district, such as championing the needs of the beleaguered steel industry. In 1999 he was a prominent part of the "Stand Up for Steel" campaign, which united the steel industry and steel unions in a fight against low-priced imports. In 2000, he was one of a handful of Republicans who backed an effort to block permanent normal trade status for China. In 2001, Ney was one of three Republicans to vote against the USA Patriot Act (the other two were Butch Otter of Idaho and Ron Paul of Texas). In 2005 he voted against President Bush's Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) and against Republican budget cuts to Medicaid and after-school programs.

In 2003, Ney led the effort, along with fellow Republican Congressman Walter B. Jones, to change the name of "french fries" and "French toast" to "freedom fries" and "freedom toast". His committee had authority over House cafeterias. Ney said at a press conference that "this action today is a small, but symbolic effort to show the strong displeasure of many on Capitol Hill with the actions of our so-called ally, France." In July 2006, after Ney had left the committee, the names were changed back; Ney had no comment. In late 2005 and early 2006, allegations that Ney played a key role in the Abramoff lobbying scandal were widely reported. (See below.)

On January 15, 2006, Ney resigned as chairman of the House Administration Committee. He maintained that he had done nothing wrong, but had been under increasing pressure to stand down since his ties to Abramoff were an increasing embarrassment in light of Republican plans for reforms of lobbying and campaign finance rules. The House Administration Committee has jurisdiction over elections and lobbyists. House Speaker Dennis Hastert reportedly emailed a Roll Call article regarding Ney's precarious hold on the gavel to several Capitol beat reporters. Ney's resignation was officially temporary. However, even some of his Republican colleagues expected him to be indicted. Under Republican caucus rules, he would have permanently lost his chairmanship if indicted.

On June 29, 2006, three of Ney's staffers resigned: Brian Walsh, a longtime Ney spokesman; Will Heaton, Ney’s chief of staff; and Chris Otillio, a senior legislative aide. In a statement, Ney said that Congressional staff turnover is high, and that all three departing staff members had worked for him longer than many others stay in similar jobs.