[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 8 (Friday, January 13, 1995)]
[House]
[Pages H235-H236]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     DISCLOSURE ON BOOK DEAL NEEDED

  (Mr. DURBIN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. Speaker, Speaker Gingrich has said that his 
multimillion dollar book deal was ``like winning the lottery.'' Well, 
not quite, Mr. Speaker. Your lottery was no game of chance. You see, 
Mr. Speaker, you were 
[[Page H236]] the only one holding a lottery ticket. And in addition, 
your lottery price was being decided by Rupert Murdoch and his 
publishing empire, a man who has extensive issues pending before 
Federal agencies.
  This morning's Washington Post reported that many publishing 
companies refused to bid on the Speaker's book contract when Mr. 
Murdoch raised the offer into the millions of dollars.
  The Republicans and Speaker Gingrich have promised us new openness in 
dealing with the House of Representatives and politics in Washington. 
Let us start with openness and full disclosure on this multimillion 
dollar book deal. It is time for the Speaker to not only release the 
contract, but to come clean with the American people about all the 
circumstances surrounding it.


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