[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 60 (Wednesday, May 13, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E849]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




DEMOCRATS ON CHAIRMAN BURTON'S COMMITTEE JUSTIFIED IN REFUSING TO VOTE 
                              FOR IMMUNITY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JOHN CONYERS, JR.

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 13, 1998

  Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, several hours ago, the House Government 
Reform and Oversight Committee gave a vote of no confidence to the 
campaign finance investigation being headed by my friend Chairman Dan 
Burton of Indiana. The Committee declined to immunize four witnesses 
and haul them before his Committee. As a past Chairman of that 
Committee, I can tell you that what the Committee did today was the 
only course of action they could take.
  My democratic colleagues were not asking for much. They simply wanted 
procedures for subpoenas that would give them a chance to object and 
force a Committee vote before such subpoenas could be issued. They were 
willing to negotiate, but Chairman Burton refused.
  I'm sorry to say this, but Chairman Burton's recent actions have 
discredited the major oversight committee of the Congress, which is 
supposed to set the example for fair investigative procedure.
  Never in my tenure, not once, as Chairman of that committee, did the 
minority complain that a major investigation was unfair, or conducted 
without their full involvement.
  Consider the causes for embarrassment:
  More than 600 subpoenas issued without ever having one Committee vote 
or the involvement of members of the Committee;
  A stubborn refusal to subpoena any witnesses requested by the 
Democratic members of the Committee;
  A tasteless decision to release the private conversations between Mr. 
Hubbell and his wife that had no connection to the subject that the 
Committee was investigating;
  The misleading editing of the tape transcripts, which should have 
never been released in the first place, forcing a public rebuke by the 
Speaker for the embarrassment caused to the House of Representatives;
  The growing evidence that the Committee may be improperly, and 
perhaps illegally, coordinating its investigation with that of 
Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr, which by federal law is supposed to 
remain secret.
  The failure of the Oversight Committee's investigation carries an 
important lesson for all of us in Congress. The concerns of every 
member of a committee--especially an investigative committee--cannot be 
ignored or shunted aside by procedural maneuvers. I am hopeful that my 
colleagues will keep these lessons in mind as we move forward from the 
ashes of the Burton investigation.

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