Demos, Gop Declare Truce In Gingrich Dispute Many Lawmakers Weary Of Battles, Ready To Support Proposed Punishment

Declaring an uneasy truce in a two-year political blood feud, House Republicans and Democrats on Saturday expressed new resolve to put House Speaker Newt Gingrich’s ethics case behind them.

The desire to “bring some peace to the House,” in the words of Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., marks a surprisingly quick turnaround after some 28 months of partisan - and personal - rancor that at times threatened the chamber’s ability to conduct its affairs.

The urge to move on, uttered in almost wistful tones by several lawmakers, came after the House Ethics Committee recommended Friday that the speaker “reimburse” the House $300,000 for the cost of the probe and that he receive a formal reprimand for various ethical lapses during his House career.

Gingrich had no public comment Saturday, but he also has indicated a desire to put the matter behind him: He has admitted breaking House rules in connection with the case and his attorneys have signaled that he will not contest the proposed punishment.

In interviews, members from both sides of the aisle said they expected the House overwhelmingly to approve the committee’s proposed sanctions when the matter is put to a floor vote on Tuesday.

At the same time, they warned that the yen for comity could be obscured by a final round of political recrimination during the debate proceeding the vote.

Rep. Robert T. Matsui, D-Calif., cautioned that a fractious floor debate could occur if Republicans continue to make light of Gingrich’s transgressions, or if Democrats do not let up on their scathing attacks on the Georgia Republican.

“Anything can ignite a food fight in this place,” Matsui said.

Behind the scenes, however, there are signs of a desire by Republicans and Democrats alike to engage in serious fence-mending.

Democrats are discussing whether to abandon an effort to force a House vote on a resolution condemning the actions of Rep. Nancy L. Johnson, R-Conn., who chairs the Ethics Committee. Democrats have charged that Johnson was such a staunch Gingrich partisan that she actually violated House rules in her handling of the case.

Republicans, meanwhile, are mulling whether to abandon the notion of filing ethics charges against Rep. Jim McDermott, D-Wash., who was the ranking Democrat on the ethics panel until he stepped down amid accusations that he leaked a clandestine tape-recording of a cellular telephone conversation in which Gingrich discussed with allies strategies to combat the ethics charges.

A few Democrats are not content with the proposed sanctions, and evidently intend to continue clamoring for Gingrich’s resignation.

“Three hundred thousand dollars and a public reprimand is pretty steep for what his supporters claimed was mere ethical ‘jaywalking’ or an ethical ‘speeding ticket,’ ” said Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas.

“Speaker Gingrich is paying more than most Americans pay for a house in a desperate effort to keep his power over this House. But since the speaker can’t buy back his integrity, he should step aside immediately.”