[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 125 (Thursday, September 12, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H10332-H10333]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

  (Mr. LEWIS of Georgia asked and was given permission to address 
theHouse for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, in an editorial yesterday, the New 
York Times said, theHouse Ethics Committee, quote, ``seems determined 
to sacrifice whatever little is left of its credibility by letting 
Congress adjourn without resolving any of the pending ethics complaints 
against Speaker Newt Gingrich.''


                             point of order

  Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, point of order.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Georgia will suspend.
  The gentleman from Pennsylvania will state his point of order.
  Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, the gentleman from Georgia is engaging in 
debate which is outside the rules of theHouse and should be admonished 
by the Chair.
  Mr. VOLKMER. Mr. Speaker, the gentleman from Georgia is merely 
reading from a New York newspaper.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Missouri will suspend.
  The gentleman from Pennsylvania is correct. Consistent with prior 
rulings, the gentleman from Georgia is advised to proceed in order.
  Does the gentleman from Missouri wish to be recognized?


                         parliamentary inquiry

  Mr. VOLKMER. Mr. Speaker, I have a parliamentary inquiry.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman will state it.
  Mr. VOLKMER. Is the Chair now telling us that if there has been a 
periodical published, that in regard to the Ethics Committee, that we 
cannot comment on it? Or cannot read from it?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Newspaper accounts detailing a pending 
investigation before the Standards Committee not yet brought to the 
floor of theHouse come under the same restrictions as the Member's own 
words. That has been the basis of the rulings of the Chair, yes, sir.
  Mr. VOLKMER. Further parliamentary inquiry, Mr. Speaker.
  In other words, you are saying, under your ruling, every Member of 
this House is gagged as far as commenting on a report from the Ethics 
Committee?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Precedents have long held that to be the 
standard, that is correct. That is the ruling of the Chair.
  The gentleman from Georgia may proceed in order.
  Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I can clearly understand that the 
gentlemen from Pennsylvania and Georgia desire to silence us on this 
issue, but this issue will not go away.
  Mr. Speaker, if I might continue.
  The outside counsel, James Cole, has submitted an extensive report on 
his 9-month investigation of Speaker Gingrich.


                             point of order

  Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, point of order.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Georgia will suspend.
  The gentleman from Pennsylvania will state his point of order.
  Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, the gentleman from Georgia continues to 
proceed out of order, and the Chair should require that the gentleman 
observe the regular order of theHouse.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Georgia must either 
proceed in regular order or be seated.
  Mr. VOLKMER. Did the Chair rule that the gentleman's words were not 
in order?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. That is correct. The gentleman continues to 
refer to a pending investigation before the Standards Committee.
  Mr. VOLKMER. He merely stated that a report had been filed with the 
Ethics Committee. He did not mention any action of the Ethics 
Committee.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. It is the Chair's opinion and ruling that 
that is part of the prohibited debate.
  The gentleman from Georgia is invited to proceed in regular order.
  Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, let me just say, enough is enough.
   Mr. Speaker, if the Ethics Committee will not act, the American 
people have a right to judge for themselves.


                             point of order

  Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, the gentleman from Georgia continues to 
proceed out of order in theHouse. The gentleman is not following the 
Chair's admonishment that Members have an obligation to theHouse and to 
the institution to proceed in order.
  The point of order is that the gentleman is out of order.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The point of order is again sustained, and 
the gentleman from Georgia is again advised to please proceed in 
regular order or be seated.
  Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, the Ethics Committee has a 
responsibility and a moral obligation to release the outside counsel's 
report.


                             point of order

  Mr. LINDER. Mr. Speaker, point of order.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Georgia will suspend.
  The other gentleman from Georgia will state his point of order.
  Mr. LINDER. Mr. Speaker, this is the fourth time that the gentleman 
has referred to matters on the floor that

[[Page H10333]]

were in the Ethics Committee and ignored the admonition of the Chair. 
Maybe it is perhaps time for him to be seated.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman's point of order for the 
fourth time is sustained and correct and the other gentleman from 
Georgia is again invited to proceed in regular order.
  Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, if the committee refuses to 
release the report, the American people can only assume a coverup of 
massive proportions.
  Release this report. Release it now, Mr. Speaker.

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