Over lunch outside Faneuil Hall, we met with and interviewed Representative Bell, from Texas, who has filed an ethical complaint against Re. Tom Delay, the Majority Leader of the Republican Party in the House. If you want a background primer read The Rise of the Machine and kos has been blogging it on OurCongress.

The complaint was based upon DeLay's abuse of power during the redistricting, using the FAA, the Department of Justice, and the Dept. of Homeland Security to harass and seek out for arrest of the Texas Democrats that attempted to derail the redistricting efforts in Texas during 2002-2003. The complaint includes details of the quid pro quo that DeLay employed for deregulation of utilities in return for financial gain by the Republican Party. And finally, the issue that is being investigated by the courts in Texas, Delay headed up an organization to secure a political majority for Republicans in Texas that illegally used funds for partisan purposes. It's a compelling case. The ethic board in the Congress is made up of 5 Democrats and 5 Republicans. DeLay has requested a delay, so the matter will come up again in 45 days.

Bell is bullish on Democrats in Texas, and is mulling over his future, including the 2006 Texas statewide races. So likely is Turner, (who, like Bell, was ousted due to the GOP's redistricting) reportedly running for either Governor or Senator. It's going to take a tipping point to change the balance of votes in Texas. The demographics favor Democrats more each year, but it's going to take a breakthrough for the Democrats. Is redistricting it?  I was skeptical, but Bell thought it could be, citing poll numbers that showed voters associated the matter with "a lack of leadership" by Republicans in Texas.  Rep. Bell could have gone quietly into the night, but instead, he burned the bridges and is taking DeLay to the mat.