[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 125 (Thursday, September 12, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H10335]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               DEBATE SHOULD NOT BE STIFLED IN THE HOUSE

  (Mr. KLINK asked and was given permission to address theHouse for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. KLINK. Mr. Speaker, I love this House of Representatives. I love 
what it stands for. And when there is a shadow cast upon the Speaker of 
theHouse of Representatives, there is a shadow cast upon this 
institution, there is a shadow cast upon the democracy that this 
institution represents.
  As a reporter, I will tell you that many times I have seen myself in 
a position where I have been threatened by someone who was in 
authority, who did not want me to bring forward a certain news story, 
bring forth certain facts. But never in my life did I imagine it would 
be when I would leave the job of being a reporter and come to be an 
elected official on the floor, that my colleagues would say let us 
stifle the debate. Let us not talk about it. Let us not remove the 
shadow that hangs over the head of the Speaker and this House and this 
Nation by allowing sunlight to shine upon it. Let us stifle the people.
  It was when the Democrats were running theHouse that then Congressman 
Gingrich was allowed to say I think it is vital that we establish as a 
Congress our commitment to publish the report to release those 
documents so that the country can judge. Today the country cannot 
judge, Mr. Speaker.

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