Hastert wants Ney to resign as panel chief

Ney said he's talking to Hastert about the matter.
WASHINGTON (AP) -- House Speaker Dennis Hastert is trying to force out Ohio Rep. Bob Ney as chairman of the House Administration Committee, a week after Justice Department documents linked Ney to a bribery scheme involving convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff.
Ney's committee has jurisdiction over the Republican reform agenda in the wake of the Abramoff scandal, and Hastert believes it is inappropriate to let Ney run it, said a GOP leadership aide, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the negotiations between Ney and the speaker.
Ney, who was in New Orleans for a hearing on housing needs in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, confirmed that he is talking with Hastert about stepping down from the chairmanship.
"I'm considering it -- stepping down temporarily -- and once the issue is over, I'll come back," said Ney, an Ohio Republican.
Ney said there is so much controversy about Abramoff that he did not want to get in the way of Congress continuing its work.
The aide said the speaker himself cannot fire Ney, and unless Ney steps aside it would be at least three weeks until the GOP caucus could consider removing him.