] House Republicans proposed changing their rules last
] night to allow members indicted by state grand juries to
] remain in a leadership post, a move that would benefit
] Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Tex.) in case he is charged
] by a Texas grand jury that has indicted three of his
] political associates, according to GOP leaders.
]
]
] The proposed rule change, which several leaders predicted
] would win approval at a closed meeting today, comes as
] House Republicans return to Washington feeling indebted
] to DeLay for the slightly enhanced majority they won in
] this month's elections. DeLay led an aggressive
] redistricting effort in Texas last year that resulted in
] five Democratic House members retiring or losing
] reelection. It also triggered a grand jury inquiry into
] fundraising efforts related to the state legislature's
] redistricting actions.