A DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKER UNDER INVESTIGATION IN A BRIBERY SCANDAL SAID ON WEDNESDAY HE WOULD NOT COMPLY WITH HIS PARTY LEADER'S REQUEST TO RESIGN HIS POSITION ON AN INFLUENTIAL TAX-WRITING COMMITTEE, ACCORDING TO REUTERS. LOUISIANA REP. WILLIAM JEFFERSON REJECTED A REQUEST BY HOUSE MINORITY LEADER NANCY PELOSI TO STEP DOWN FROM THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE WHILE THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT INVESTIGATES WHETHER HE TOOK MORE THAN $400,000 IN BRIBES TO PROMOTE INTERNET TECHNOLOGY IN WEST AFRICA. "I WILL NOT GIVE UP A COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENT THAT IS SO VITAL TO NEW ORLEANS AT THIS CRUCIAL TIME FOR ANY UNCERTAIN POLITICAL STRATEGY," JEFFERSON SAID IN A LETTER TO PELOSI. JEFFERSON SAID HIS COMMITTEE POST ENABLED HIM TO SECURE FUNDS FOR HIS NEW ORLEANS-BASED DISTRICT AFTER IT WAS DEVASTATED BY HURRICANE KATRINA LAST YEAR. THE INTRAPARTY SPAT POSES PROBLEMS FOR DEMOCRATS, WHO HAVE MADE REPUBLICAN CORRUPTION SCANDALS A CENTRAL THEME OF THEIR CAMPAIGN TO TAKE BACK CONTROL OF CONGRESS IN THE NOVEMBER ELECTIONS. PELOSI, OF CALIFORNIA, IN A LETTER RELEASED EARLIER ON WEDNESDAY, ASKED JEFFERSON TO RESIGN FROM THE COMMITTEE "IN THE INTEREST OF UPHOLDING THE HIGH ETHICAL STANDARD OF THE HOUSE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS." --MORE
