[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 194 (Thursday, December 7, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H14176]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   IT IS TIME TO DEBATE THE REAL ISSUES AND STOP ENGAGING IN POLEMICS

  (Mr. WALKER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, for much of this year this House has 
reverberated with speeches condemning fellow Members of Congress and 
other fellow figures. Many of those speeches have bordered on hate. 
Some people on my side of the aisle have used language against the 
President that has been inappropriate. On the minority side of the 
aisle, the speeches against the Speaker have been filled with venom.
  The fact is that we are going to have political differences over 
issues and policies. We should debate vigorously those matters. But in 
the citadel of democracy there should be much more civility than we 
have seen this year.
  Those of you who wanted the Committee on Ethics to report on the 
Speaker, they have. Can we now stop the personal vilification? Can the 
leadership on both sides of the aisle begin policing our own ranks to 
stop Members from using the House floor to vilify each other or express 
personal hatreds?
  Many of us, myself included, have engaged in polemics on this floor. 
If what I have said in the past has been offensive to someone, then I 
intend to lower my voice and stick to debating the real issues, like 
balancing the budget. I would hope that others will do the same. It is 
time to stop anything that can be interpreted as meanness, venom, or 
hate.

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