Hastert plans to announce reforms, no resignation

WASHINGTON, Oct 5 (Reuters) The top Republican in the US House, battling calls for his resignation over a Capitol Hill sex scandal, called a news conference today to again say he will not step down, senior party aides said.

Summoning reporters as US lawmakers were beginning another investigation of the case that has sparked a political firestorm four weeks before critical US elections, House Speaker Dennis Hastert planned to outline proposed reforms, the aides said.

In the week since Republican Rep. Mark Foley resigned after revelation he sent lewd messages to underage boys, Hastert has faced heavy criticism for not doing enough to stop Foley's actions though he knew at least a year ago that concerns had surfaced.

Hastert's office announced the news conference in his home state of Illinois as the bipartisan group of lawmakers charged with enforcing House ethics began looking at whether top Republican leaders handled the situation properly. A federal investigation is already under way.

With polls beginning to show the public is taking notice, the case has rocked the Congress and buoyed Democratic hopes they can take back control of the House as well as the Senate in next month's elections.

REUTERS DKB KN2322