[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 29 (Tuesday, March 17, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H1173-H1174]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       SLUSH FUND ACCOUNTABILITY

  (Mr. HOYER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, last year House Republicans created a $7.9 
million reserve fund for unanticipated committee expenses. They always 
anticipated, of course, spending the money. What they could not 
anticipate was which partisan witch-hunts they would use it for.

[[Page H1174]]

  This cash stash is nothing but a slush fund for GOP priorities. 
Committees cook up schemes; if the Speaker approves, the Committee on 
House Oversight rubber stamps, and money flows. There is no floor 
debate, no vote, and no accountability. Millions have been disbursed 
this way, and Republicans are now scheming how to spend the $4 million 
left in the fund.
  I have introduced legislation, Mr. Speaker, requiring a House vote on 
future payouts from the slush fund. If Republicans want to waste public 
money on partisan witch-hunts, they should have to debate and vote in 
public.
  The majority loves to talk about accountability. Let us see if they 
can put the slush fund where their mouth is.

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