[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 10 (Wednesday, January 18, 1995)]
[House]
[Pages H307-H308]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      A GAG RULE IS BEING IMPOSED

  (Mr. Dingell asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I came here to the House floor to discuss 
the unfunded mandates question. But a much more important question is 
before this body.
  This is not the Duma, this is not the Reichstag. This is the House of 
the people, and in the 40 years that I have served here, it has been my 
pride that we have had free and open debate, and that great questions, 
including questions of the propriety and the behavior of Members of 
this body, could be discussed on the floor in an appropriate fashion.
  Today we find that that cannot be. Members on this side get the 
distinct impression that a gag rule is being imposed and that Members 
of this side 
[[Page H308]] may not raise questions about the behavior of the 
Speaker.
  It is interesting to note that there has been no appointment of an 
ethics committee. The behavior of the Speaker cannot in any way be 
addressed in that body.
  It is interesting to note that the ruling of the Speaker has 
precluded a discussion of that question here in this body.
  We need the appointment of an ethics committee, because perhaps that 
is the only place we can address it, and we also need the appointment 
of a special prosecutor to inquire into matters that cannot be 
addressed on the House floor.


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