The House Judiciary Committee has had a lot of focus lately, for the high-handed tactics of Rep. James Sensenbrenner. Today,
this diary quoted a story in
The Hill about Sensenbrenner refusing to allow Conyers to use House facilities.
What I noticed, however, was this:
Majority spokesman Jeff Lungren said the Republicans have given Democrats three opportunities to make clear that the forums are not official committee business. Nevertheless, Lungren said, in at least one case, members were addressing Conyers as "Mr. Chairman."
So, I wondered, is this Jeff Lungren related to Rep. Dan Lungren (R-CA)? Dan Lungren -- who was just re-elected to Congress after serving as California Attorney General, then an unsuccessful gubernatorial candidate, and then (presumably) a few years tucked away in some Republican sinecure. Dan Lungren -- who happens to sit on the Judiciary Committee. Is it possible that these two Lungrens are related?
Yes, indeedy!!!!
From a February edition of The Hill:
Under the Dome
February 1, 2005
WASHINGTON - When Rep. Dan Lungren was sworn into office for the first time in 1979, his 5-year-old son, Jeff, was with him. Earlier this month, when Lungren was sworn in to the House again after a 15-year absence, Jeff was present on Capitol Hill again. But this time, he was drawing a paycheck.
Jeff Lungren is now communications director for the House Judiciary Committee, on which dear old Dad now sits again.
How things change, the congressman told a breakfast sponsored by The Hill last week: "Now I have reporters coming up to me and saying, `Are you Dan Lungren?' I say yes, and they say, "Are you possibly related to Jeff Lungren?' I have to confess that he's my son."
House Republican leaders restored Lungren's four terms of seniority on the Judiciary Committee, but the move wasn't without its problems.
"I found out that the payroll of the Judiciary Committee was held up until my son signed a sheet of paper saying that he's my son," said the congressman. But the Lungrens aren't running afoul of any ethics rules. "He's grandfathered in," Lungren said. "He got the job before I ever got there."
...
"It's very exciting and special" to have his father back in Congress, he said.
Ah, yes, how special!
They are no doubt right that there is nothing technically wrong with this since Jeff worked there before his father was re-elected. Nonetheless, it stinks at least a little and is a perfect example of how closely connected all these people tend to be. I would also think that Sensenbrenner may want to watch his back now that they've restored all of Lungren's seniority. With all the controversy that's been swirling around Sensenbrenner these days, the House caucus might find it desirable to replace him with a person with a good background in judicial matters. Say, maybe, someone with a fair amount of seniority, several years service on the Judiciary Committee and, oh, maybe a former California Attorney General for good measure?
I did notice that Lungren was one of the few Republicans to attend the Patriot Act hearings that Sensenbrenner shut down last week. And he was also among the last to leave, after Sensenbrenner had walked out. Perhaps he was waiting for Jeff....
An interesting little footnote to this story. Dan's father and Jeff's grandfather happened to be Richard Nixon's personal physician!