[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 46 (Thursday, April 17, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H1622]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         DOING THE RIGHT THING

  (Mr. BALLENGER asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute.)
  Mr. BALLENGER. Mr. Speaker, today, Speaker Gingrich is doing the 
right thing. The reimbursement that he is paying is not a fine. The 
committee itself makes it clear that the reimbursement of legal 
expenses are for costs only. The Committee on Standards of Official 
Conduct imposed no restrictions on how the reimbursement could be paid. 
Speaker Gingrich could have used campaign funds to reimburse the 
committee. Others have done this, the gentleman from Missouri [Mr. 
Gephardt], the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Frost], former Congressman 
Rose.
  Speaker Gingrich could have used the Newt Gingrich trust fund 
approved by the committee for the stated purpose of paying the 
reimbursement. Instead, the Speaker chose to do the right thing by 
reimbursing the taxpayers and taking full responsibility with borrowed 
money under his own name. I commend Speaker Gingrich for the effort 
that he is putting forward.

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