[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 10 (Wednesday, January 18, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H303]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRIES

  Mr. WISE. Mr. Speaker, I have a parliamentary inquiry.
  Mr. Speaker, my parliamentary inquiry is based upon the Speaker's 
recent ruling and the action by this Chair and by this body. The 
question I have may involve several Members about to speak.
  Is the Speaker entitled to a higher level of avoidance than other 
Members? That seems to be the issue raised in the Speaker's response on 
this.
  Mr. DeLAY. Regular order, Mr. speaker.
  Mr. WISE. Does the body refrain from raising certain questions about 
the Speaker that it could raise about other Members in the Chamber?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. All Members are entitled to have no personal 
references made about them when that question is brought up.
  Mr. WISE. Mr. Speaker, continuing my parliamentary inquiry, then the 
Speaker is not entitled to any higher standard than any other Member in 
regard to personal references, is that correct, or any lower standard?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair has already ruled, but the Speaker 
as a Member and as presiding officer is entitled to the respect of all 
Members.
  Mr. WISE. But what about the Speaker? Is the Speaker as Speaker 
entitled to any different level of attention or respect than any other 
Member in the Chamber?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Speaker is entitled to respect.
  Mr. WISE. I have a further parliamentary inquiry, Mr. Speaker.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Georgia [Mr. Linder] is 
seeking recognition.
  Mr. WISE. Mr. Speaker, this goes directly to the issue. Can any 
questions be raised about the personal financial dealings by the 
Speaker that have been reported in the public media?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair has ruled and the House has 
supported the Chair's ruling on the point of order from this side.
  Mr. WISE. Is it the Chair's position that no questions can be raised 
about the Speaker's personal financial dealings?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. There are proper channels in the House for 
questioning the conduct of Members, including the Speaker.
  Mr. WISE. If there is not an ethics investigation pending----
  Mr. DeLAY. Regular order, Mr. Speaker.
  Mr. WISE. With a privileged resolution or an ethics resolution not 
pending, is it appropriate to question any of the financial dealings of 
the Speaker in the context of 1-minute speeches or other activities?
  Mr. DeLAY. Regular order.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair is entertaining a parliamentary 
inquiry.
  Mr. WISE. I will restate it if the Chair wishes.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Simply put, in debate references personally 
to the Speaker are not in order.
  Mr. DeLAY. Mr. Speaker, if I may be recognized, is it a parliamentary 
procedure in this House that when Members call for regular order, the 
Speaker is to rule and go to regular order, particularly in light of 
the fact that a Member is not stating a proper parliamentary inquiry?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman should know in deference to 
him that the Chair was entertaining a parliamentary inquiry that was 
proper, and the Chair was answering.
  The gentleman from Georgia [Mr. Linder] is now recognized for 1 
minute.


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