[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 140 (Thursday, October 9, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H8806]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM

  (Mr. ARMEY asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. ARMEY. Mr. Speaker, in my considered opinion, I believe every 
Member of this body has had enough fun for today. We have a few Members 
that want to conduct some routine business, a unanimous-consent 
request, to help with the general orderly business of the House.
  It would be my preference, Mr. Speaker, that these Members be allowed 
to do that. I see the distinguished minority whip is there. I would 
like to ask the whip if perhaps he might be able to give me some 
assurance that these Members could conduct that business in an orderly 
fashion, and I could release the rest of the body to begin their 
district work period.
  Mr. BONIOR. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. ARMEY. I yield to the gentleman from Michigan.
  Mr. BONIOR. Mr. Speaker, I would say to my colleague that we do not 
expect any other votes on this side of the aisle.
  But I would also say to my colleague, and with respect to the Speaker 
as well, it is my understanding at the beginning of this Congress it 
was decided that we would have votes held to 17 minutes. I want to note 
that that vote that we just had went over 40 minutes.
  When the Speaker says in the middle of a vote that he has 
prerogatives under the House to extend the vote beyond the 15 minutes, 
I suspect under the Rules, and I do not know this, but I suspect he 
perhaps is right. But it was the announced policy of the Speaker and of 
the majority that we would hold votes to 17 minutes, and the public 
should take note that that vote went over 40 minutes.
  Mr. ARMEY. I thank the gentleman for his observation.
  The SPEAKER. The Chair would simply like to observe for the 
distinguished gentleman from Michigan [Mr. Bonior] that on one recent 
occasion, at the request of the Democratic cloakroom, a vote was held 
open for more than 17 minutes because Members were at the White House 
meeting with the President, and that the Chair always has the 
prerogative to lengthen a vote at the Chair's discretion, and that is 
clear in the rules.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Armey].
  Mr. ARMEY. I believe I am correct in understanding, Mr. Speaker, that 
it is the assurance of the gentleman from Michigan [Mr. Bonior] that 
there should be no more recorded votes expected.
  That being the case, I would encourage everyone to return to their 
districts, have a productive work period, and please do enjoy time with 
their families.

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