[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 14 (Tuesday, January 24, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H553]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                                BOOKGATE

  (Mr. BECERRA asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BECERRA. Mr. Speaker, we have heard a growing number of 
conflicting and disturbing reports over Bookgate, the Speaker's book 
deal. Here is the bottom line, though: If the Republicans want to close 
the books on this episode, it is time for them to open up the books to 
the book deal and accept the call for an independent counsel to 
investigate these mysterious dealings.
  Some Republicans are hoping that this issue will quietly disappear. 
But, Mr. Speaker, it will not go away, for a simple reason: America 
does not know what there is to ``go away.''
  As recently as last week, the Speaker and Republican leaders met with 
media moguls in this country, including tycoon Rupert Murdoch. Murdoch 
is pushing the Congress to eliminate the ban on foreign ownership of 
America's TV and newspaper companies. Murdoch's publishing company, by 
the way, was the one that gave the Speaker the $4.5 million book deal. 
Do not forget also that Murdoch and his lobbyists had a private meeting 
with the Speaker prior to the announcement of that lucrative book deal. 
Last week's meeting could have been just a friendly get-together, or 
there might have been a lot more to it than that.
  It is time to, Mr. Speaker, open up the process and find out exactly 
what did happen.


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