[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 72 (Friday, June 10, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: June 10, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
REPRESENTATIVES OF DESERT COMMUNITIES TREATED UNFAIRLY BY COMMITTEE ON 
                           NATURAL RESOURCES

  (Mr. LEWIS of California asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, Members, I believe that the 
House knows me to be largely a person who does not involve himself in 
an overt way in pure partisan politics. I must say that I share with 
the public their concern about ofttimes the debate around here being 
dominated by the extreme voices, the shrill voices, of partisanship. 
But today we have on the House floor, one more time, the natural 
resources product dealing with my desert communities.
  Mr. Speaker, if indeed there is a reflection of partisan rhetoric and 
extreme, it is the way the four Members of the House who represent the 
desert communities, who have been elected to represent it, have been 
treated by this committee. In my years of public service I have never 
seen such arbitrary action. It brings forth this reminder, Lord Acton's 
quote; that is, ``Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts 
absolutely.'' In this case, this committee reflects the problem of one 
party dominating the House for over 50 years.
  Mr. Speaker, I hope the public will look with interest as we go 
forward with this debate today.

                          ____________________