[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 40 (Friday, March 3, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H2590]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRIES

  Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I have a parliamentary inquiry.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Doolittle). The gentleman will state his 
parliamentary inquiry.
  Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, was not the entire speech of the gentleman 
from Missouri [Mr. Volkmer], just a moment ago, out of order, because 
it was a direct reference to Members of this body?
  The gentleman keeps reminding us of our obligations under the rules. 
The gentleman has a responsibility to the rules. My parliamentary 
inquiry is, was not his entire speech out of order?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Members should not refer to pending 
Standards Committee investigations.
  Mr. WALKER. I have a further parliamentary inquiry, Mr. Speaker.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman will state it.
  Mr. WALKER. Beyond the pending ethics investigation, he also may have 
had personal references to the chairman of the Ethics Committee. Is 
that also not out of order?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Members should not so refer to the Standards 
Committee or any Members thereof.
  Mr. WALKER. A further parliamentary inquiry, Mr. Speaker: My 
understanding is that what the gentleman has just done in the House was 
a speech which was entirely out of order before the body: is that 
correct?
  The SPEAKER. The Chair is responding in a general way to the proper 
debate in the House with respect to ethics investigations.
  Mr. WALKER. I thank the Chair.
  Mr. VOLKMER. Mr. Speaker, I have a parliamentary inquiry.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman will state his parliamentary 
inquiry.
  Mr. VOLKMER. Is the Chair ruling that it is improper for any Member 
to request a special counsel in an investigation being conducted by the 
Ethics Committee, which action has not been taken by the Ethics 
Committee?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Members should not refer to pending 
Standards Committee investigations, or suggest courses of action within 
that committee.
  Mr. VOLKMER. I thank the Chair.
  

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