Here's a question for Rep. Blake Farenthold: Is it right or wrong for members of Congress to settle sexual harassment complaints with taxpayer money?

After the news broke late last year that the Texas Republican used $84,000 in taxpayer funds to settle a credible complaint brought against him by a former staffer, Farenthold pledged to pay back the money. "I want to be clear that I didn't do anything wrong," the congressman said in December, "but I also don't want taxpayers to be on the hook for this."

Now, he's just not so sure.

On Wednesday, Farenthold's chief of staff Bob Haueter told HuffPost his boss is "waiting on the advice of counsel to see what final bill is enacted," referring to whether the Senate will pass a version of the Congressional Accountability Act, which passed the House on Tuesday.

"Once the final bill is done and the law is changed and is complete and he can see that, he will make a determination of how he proceeds,” Haueter explained.

That's a far cry from the congressman's pledge to "hand a check over this week," back in early December.

When the heat was on, Farenthold said taxpayers shouldn't fund his settlement. Now that most media pressure has subsided, he's looking for reasons to keep the cash.

Of course, one key development occurred between Point A and Point B – Farenthold decided to retire at the end of his term, liberating himself from the terrible task of fretting over the wrath of scorned voters. So, is it right or wrong to settle complaints with our money, Congressman? And just how stupid do you think your constituents are?