Congresswomen jump Tea Party ship

NASHVILLE, Jan. 29 (UPI) -- Two Republican members of Congress have said they will not speak at the national Tea Party convention in Nashville because of ethics concerns.

Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., and Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., cited ethics questions, The (Nashville) Tennessean reported. Blackburn said the House Ethics Committee had advised her the for-profit status of the convention might violate rules even though she is not accepting a speaking fee.

The convention, scheduled for Feb. 4 through Feb. 6, at the Gaylord Opryland Resort, is sponsored by Tea Party Nation, a group set up by Judson Phillips, a lawyer in Franklin, Tenn. The fee for attending the convention is $549 and the cost of the banquet alone is $349.

Blackburn said she told Phillips the for-profit issue puts many potential speakers "in an awkward position."

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is scheduled to be the keynote speaker at the banquet, with her fee reported to be $100,000. Blackburn was to have introduced Palin, who was the Republican nominee for vice president in 2008.

Palin has said she will not make money from the engagement, either because she will waive the fee or donate it.