[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 118 (Friday, August 19, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: August 19, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                 A CLERICAL INFLUENCE ON THE CRIME BILL

  (Mr. LEVY asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. LEVY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to draw the attention of my colleagues 
to some comments that President Clinton made over the weekend from the 
altar of a church in Maryland. He said, ``Our ministry is to do the 
work of God here on Earth.''

                              {time}  1030

  Later on in his remarks he went on to suggest that God himself had 
some favorable opinions about the crime bill.
  Then yesterday I opened the newspaper to find out that one of my 
Democratic colleagues from New York, who said earlier that his 
conscience required him to vote against the rule on the crime bill, 
would vote for the rule were he to have the opportunity to do so, 
because the clergy of his district wanted it. He said, ``After 
consulting with spiritual advisors, I will be supporting the rule.''
  Mr. Speaker, I would merely ask you, next time someone tells you that 
the religious right has taken over the Republican Party, to take a look 
at the events of this week.

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