[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 102 (Friday, July 29, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: July 29, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                CONDUCT AT WHITEWATER COMMITTEE HEARING

  (Mr. WATERS asked and ws given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Ms. WATERS. Madam Speaker, last evening a Member of this House, Peter 
King, had to be gaveled out of order at the Whitewater hearings of the 
Banking Committee. He had to be gaveled out of order because he 
badgered a woman who was a witness from the White House, Maggie 
Williams. I am pleased I was able to come to her defense. Madam 
Speaker, the day is over when men can badger and intimidate women.
  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Madam Speaker, I demand the gentlewoman's words be 
taken down.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Meek of Florida). The gentlewoman from 
California [Ms. Waters] must suspend and be seated.
  The Clerk will report the words.
  Ms. WATERS. ----
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentlewoman will please desist and take 
her seat.
  Ms. WATERS. ----
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair is about to direct the Sergeant at 
Arms to present the mace.

                              {time}  1150

  The SPEAKER. The Clerk will report the words.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       He had to be gaveled out of order because he badgered a 
     woman who was a witness from the White House, Maggie 
     Williams. I am pleased I was able to come to her defense. 
     Madam Chairwoman, the day is over when men can badger and 
     intimidate women.

  The SPEAKER. While in the opinion of the Chair the word ``badgering'' 
is not in itself unparliamentary, the Chair believes that the demeanor 
of the gentlewoman from California was not in good order in the 
subsequent period immediately following those words having been 
uttered.
  Accordingly, the Chair rules that without leave of the House, the 
gentlewoman from California may not proceed for the rest of today. The 
Chair would ask whether there is objection to the gentlewoman from 
California receiving the right to proceed in good order.
  Mr. SOLOMON. Reserving the right to object, Mr. Speaker, does that 
mean that all of the words will be taken down subsequent to the point 
that she was ruled out of order and stricken from the Record?
  The SPEAKER. None of those words will be in the Record, the Chair 
will state to the gentleman. None of the words will be in the Record 
subsequent to that since she was not recognized.
  Mr. SOLOMON. I thank the Chair.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no objection.
  Mrs. SCHROEDER. Reserving the right to object, Mr. Speaker, I am a 
little puzzled by the word ``demeanor.'' I was in the Chamber at the 
time, and I did see the Chair try to gavel the gentlewoman down, but I 
can understand why she could not hear, because there were so many 
people at mikes and I think she was confused by that. So I am a little 
troubled about that. How can you challenge ``demeanor''?
  The SPEAKER. The Chair wishes to advise the gentlewoman from Colorado 
that it is the opinion of the Chair that the chair at the time was 
attempting to insist that the gentlewoman from California desist with 
any further statements and sit down. She did not accord cooperation to 
the Chair and follow the Chair's instructions. Consequently, it is the 
find of the Chair that her demeanor at that point in refusing to accept 
the Chair's instructions was out of order.
  The Chair wishes to ask if there is objection to the gentlewoman from 
California proceeding in good order.
  Mr. WALKER. Reserving the right to object, Mr. Speaker, do I 
understand that the Chair is putting the question to the House under 
unanimous consent of the gentlewoman being able to proceed for the rest 
of the day?
  The SPEAKER. That is correct.
  Mr. WALKER. I thank the Chair.
  The SPEAKER. Without objection, so ordered.
  There was no objection.

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