DeLay departure big loss for Houston

Samantha Levine and Julie Mason:

The Houston area loses more than a colorful political figure with the departure of Rep. Tom DeLay from Congress. The Sugar Land Republican is also taking his clout and seniority with him.

DeLay's decision to withdraw from his re-election race and step down from national politics under an ethical cloud leaves Texas without a lawmaker who has held a top congressional leadership role.

"Since the late 1920s Texas has almost consistently had a member of the high leadership in either the House or Senate or both," said Cal Jillson, a political scientist at Southern Methodist University. "We simply don't have that anymore."

DeLay's political career in many ways was undone by the often ferocious partisan atmosphere he nurtured during his ascent to House majority leader. Known as "The Hammer," DeLay famously twisted arms and coerced votes in pursuit of his political goals.

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With DeLay out of the picture, Texas now faces a void in homegrown congressional leadership that could undercut the state's influence in the House until the current crop of members gains stature in the years ahead.

Rep. Kevin Brady, R-The Woodlands, said DeLay's departure is "a big loss in clout for the Houston region and for Texas. There was no stronger advocate for NASA, for the port, for transportation funding, than Tom DeLay."

While DeLay was a champion of highway funding for the area, he blocked federal funding for Houston monorail and light rail systems for years. Some community leaders who battled DeLay on rail and other issues took a harder line on his legacy to Houston and the state.

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