Representative Jason Chaffetz, a freshman Republican from Utah, raised the possibility that some lawmakers were “trading votes for jobs.” He cited a report that Representative Bart Gordon, Democrat of Tennessee, had been promised a job as NASA administrator and that another Tennessee Democrat, Representative John Tanner, wanted an appointment as ambassador to NATO in exchange for his vote.
The two men said the assertions were false. “That offer was never made, and I would not accept it,” said Mr. Gordon, the chairman of the House Science and Technology Committee, who announced Thursday that he would support the bill. Mr. Tanner, who has not announced his position on the bill, said it was a sad day when such charges were repeated in the House chamber. “To take an unsubstantiated, untrue total fabrication and to repeat it on this floor is, in my judgment, an affront to this institution,” he said.
It is not too late for both men to represent their constituents and vote against this bill.
Bart Gordon-Phone: (202) 225-4231
John Tanner-Phone: (202) 225-4714
