The indictment of U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay has prompted the Texas Republican to temporarily step aside from his leadership post in government. And, southwest Missouri Congressman Roy Blunt – the House Majority Whip – has moved up a notch in the hierarchy. He’s now the Majority Leader – on a temporary basis. Southeast Missouri Congresswoman Jo Ann Emerson says Republicans are having a tough time dealing the DeLay’s difficulties, but there is a silver lining with the Blunt ascension. The last Missourian to hold the post of U.S. House Majority Leader was former Congressman Richard Gephardt of St. Louis, who held the job from 1989 to 1995. The Democrat became Minority Leader when the GOP took control of the U.S. House in January of 1995.