[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 2 (Thursday, January 4, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H96]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    GIVE CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE

  (Mr. DOGGETT asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. DOGGETT. Mr. Speaker, I rise in defense of the freshmen House 
Republicans. They have been unfairly maligned. Blaming them for this 
Government shutdown is like blaming the followers of the Pied Piper for 
being mesmerized by him. They voted with Speaker Gingrich 92.3 percent 
of the time in 1995. Marching in lockstep with him is the only step 
that they know. No, we should give credit where credit is due. Speaker 
Gingrich is individually as responsible for this shutdown as he was for 
the cry-baby shutdown in November. He could end personally this 
shutdown in 15 minutes this morning if he would simply put Republican 
Bob Dole's resolution here for a vote.
  Mr. Speaker, I believe there would be bipartisan support for it from 
almost every member of the Democratic caucus and some of the 
Republicans, but instead of letting people of moderation, of good will, 
work together to end this shutdown and the $40 million a day that it 
costs the American taxpayer, they are asking that the Speaker be given 
extraordinary power to recess this body until January 23. That is 
simply fanaticism run amok in this body.

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