[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 135 (Thursday, September 26, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H11356]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          DISMISSING THE ELECTION CONTEST AGAINST CHARLIE ROSE

  Mr. THOMAS, from the Committee on House Oversight, submitted a 
privileged report (Rept. No. 104-852) on the resolution (H. Res. 538) 
dismissing the election contest against Charlie Rose, which was 
referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed.
  Mr. THOMAS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent for immediate 
consideration of the resolution (House Resolution 538) dismissing the 
election contest against Charlie Rose.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  Mr. FAZIO of California. Reserving the right to object, Mr. Speaker, 
and I obviously do not intend to object, but I would like my colleague, 
the gentleman from California, to explain the purpose of this 
resolution.
  Mr. THOMAS. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. FAZIO of California. I yield to the gentleman from California.
  Mr. THOMAS. I thank the gentleman for yielding, Mr. Speaker.
  As was announced, this was a resolution dismissing the election 
contest filed by Mr. Robert Anderson against the gentleman from North 
Carolina, Mr. Charlie Rose, for the seat in the Seventh Congressional 
District in North Carolina.
  As chairman of the Committee on House Oversight, I appointed a task 
force from the committee, comprised of the gentleman from Ohio, John 
Boehner, as chairman, the gentleman from Louisiana, William Jefferson, 
and the gentleman from Michigan, Vern Ehlers, to hear the matter.
  The task force heard allegations of election irregularities and fraud 
but concluded that there were not sufficient credible allegations that, 
if proven, would change the outcome of the election.
  The task force met on August 3, 1995, and voted unanimously to 
dismiss the contest. I believe the House clearly should so indicate to 
the gentleman from North Carolina [Mr. Rose], since October 25, 1995, 
the full committee agreed unanimously to recommend dismissal.
  I do want to thank the minority for lifting the hold on unanimous 
consents so we could present this resolution this evening.
  Mr. FAZIO of California. Further reserving the right to object, Mr. 
Speaker, I simply want to join with the gentleman from California [Mr. 
Thomas] in removing our colleague, the gentleman from North Carolina 
[Mr. Rose], from his 2-year term in purgatory.
  With that, Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:

                              H. Res. 538

       Resolved, That the election contest of Robert Anderson, 
     contestant, against Charlie Rose, contestee, relating to the 
     office of Representative from the Seventh Congressional 
     District of North Carolina, is dismissed.

  The resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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