[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 2 (Thursday, January 5, 1995)]
[House]
[Pages H131-H132]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        THE POWER OF GOOD IDEAS

  (Mr. TALENT asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. TALENT. Mr. Speaker, yesterday the House made an excellent start 
in holding this body accountable to the people, cutting its costs. What 
particularly impressed me about what happened yesterday was the strong 
bipartisan majorities that supported most, if not all, of the measures 
that were brought before the House.
  The following measures and many others as well passed by unanimous or 
near unanimous votes: Substantial cuts in committee staff, an 
independent auditor to examine the books of the House, banning of proxy 
voting, congressional compliance, that this body would finally be 
brought under the same laws that it has passed for everyone else.
  Yesterday, Mr. Speaker, what we heard was the sound of gridlock 
breaking. It was broken not by partisanship or by arm-twisting but by 
the power of good ideas. I look forward to the power of good ideas 
dominating in this House for the next 100 days, substantial support 
from both sides of the aisle toward an agenda that brings this body 
back to the people of the United States.
              [[Page H132]] OPENING CONGRESS TO THE PEOPLE

  (Mr. BUNN of Oregon asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BUNN of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I was delighted yesterday to see the 
promises that we have made be delivered on.
  Yet we have got a number more to do. One of the keys that happened 
yesterday was opening the process and shining light on what Congress 
does. I have to admit, I was amazed last month when I showed up as a 
new Member and I had my temporary identification, I asked a police 
officer, ``Where am I allowed to go in this building?''
  He said, ``Just about everywhere you want but a committee room.''
  I said, ``What do you mean? Aren't the committees open to the 
public?''
  He said, ``They're not only not open to the public, but at least some 
committees are not even open to other Members.''
  We have made a change to that. We are going to let people see what 
goes on here and I believe we are going to deliver on all the promises 
that we have made to America.


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