House GOP Whip Newt Gingrich of Georgia opened what could become a bitter partisan fight by saying on Tuesday he favors censuring Rep. Barney Frank for using his office to help a male prostitute. As the chamber's second-ranking Republican, Gingrich could influence conservatives wavering between a censure and the lesser reprimand proposed by the ethics committee. While the committee resolution is scheduled for floor action Thursday, a move to expel Frank could be introduced today by Republican Rep. William E. Dannemeyer of California. The resolution faces certain defeat. If he were censured, Frank, D-Mass., would lose his chairmanship of a House Judiciary subcommittee. The ethics committee condemned Frank for writing a memo, on his official letterhead, in support of male prostitute Stephen Gobie, and using his office to have 33 parking tickets incurred by Gobie dismissed. Frank had sex with Gobie and let him live in his Washington apartment.