Although Gingrich was succeeded as Speaker by Dennis Hastert, the real power fell into the hands of House Majority Leader Tom DeLay. Nicknamed the Hammer, DeLay shared Gingrich's partisan ruthlessness. He demonstrated this, in part, through the K Street Project, which packed lobbying firms with Republican operatives and instituted a pay-to-play system that rewarded lobbyists with legislation based on their support for GOP officeholders. Republican congressman Chris Shays described DeLay's philosophy in blunt terms: If it wasn't illegal, do it. The result was further norm erosion.
After Newt Gingrich stepped down as Speaker of the House, Dennis Hastert took over the position, but the true influence lay with Tom DeLay, the House Majority Leader. DeLay, known as "the Hammer," continued Gingrich's aggressive partisan approach. He implemented the K Street Project, which aimed to fill lobbying firms with Republican allies and established a favorable system where lobbyist support translated into beneficial legislation for the GOP.
Chris Shays, a Republican congressman, starkly summarized DeLay's approach by stating that anything not illegal was permissible. This mindset contributed to the diminishing adherence to established norms within governance, highlighting the increasing partisan stratification during this period.
