[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 46 (Thursday, April 17, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H1623]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   SPEAKER SHOULD NOT BE APPLAUDED FOR VIOLATING ETHICS LAWS OF HOUSE

  (Ms. DeLAURO asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I cannot believe what I am hearing today 
from my Republican colleagues. The Speaker brought discredit upon this 
House; he admitted that he lied to the Congress. Republicans are 
celebrating the fact that the gentleman from Georgia, Newt Gingrich, is 
paying a $300,000 fine for lying to Congress.
  There is nothing to celebrate, my friends. The Speaker should not be 
applauded for violating the ethics law of this body. He should not be 
applauded for paying this fine after delaying for 4 months. Any 
American citizen would have had to pay that fine immediately.
  The facts on his payment remain sketchy. Is it a loan or a $350,000 
gift from the chief lobbyist of the tobacco industry? Let us not 
forget, let us not forget that the Speaker pled guilty. It is nothing 
to celebrate. It is, in fact, a sad day for the House of 
Representatives.

                          ____________________