[W]hat's this, the House Ethics Committee is actually going to investigate the Hammer?

Interestingly, Dem committee members are saying "no." No matter what the GOP does w/r/t Tom DeLay specifically, they're saying, we want the old rules back.

Good for them. It's nice when principle and politics both demand the same answer.

Mr. Hastings said today that he and his party colleagues were eager to go ahead counter "an outrageous and completely baseless claim" by Democrats that Republicans changed some committee procedures to shield the majority leader....
Mr. Hastings declined repeatedly to answer questions on whether he had conferred with Mr. DeLay before announcing the Republicans' intention to go ahead.
"I talk to Mr. DeLay on a regular basis," he said.
I am certain that Mr. Hastings will do exactly as Tom DeLay orders him.

Mike, that statement of not changing the rules is an out-and-out LIE. What bastards!