[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 121 (Monday, September 14, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H7619]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                CALLING FOR PRESIDENT CLINTON TO RESIGN

  Mr. GANSKE. Mr. Speaker, I spent the weekend reading the Starr report 
and the White House rebuttal. The President's DNA on Monica Lewinsky's 
dress is clear proof that the President had sex with a White House 
intern. This means that the President lied when he wagged his finger 
and looked us in the eye and said, ``I'm going to say this again: I did 
not have sexual relations with that woman, Miss Lewinsky.''


                Announcement By The Speaker Pro Tempore

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Ganske) is 
reminded not to make those references. This is under the Speaker's 
announced guidelines interpreting the rule of the House.


                         Parliamentary Inquiry

  Mr. GANSKE. Parliamentary inquiry, Mr. Speaker.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman will state it.
  Mr. GANSKE. Mr. Speaker, all across the country the Starr report is 
being read in every newspaper by citizens. This is the floor of the 
House of the people. I am not saying anything that has not been 
reported in the Starr report and verified by scientific, factual 
detail. Is the Chair ruling that Members cannot speak about the Starr 
report in this well?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. That is correct. As the Chair reiterated, 
with the concurrence of the minority leader, on September 10, 1998, 
Members engaging in debate must abstain from language that is 
personally offensive toward the President, including references to 
various types of unethical behavior, and this restriction extends to 
quoting from or inserting in the Record extraneous material that is 
personally abusive of the President and would be improper if spoken as 
the Member's own words.
  It is only during the pendency of proceedings actually relating to 
impeachment as the pending business on the floor of the House that 
remarks in debate may include references to personal misconduct on the 
part of the President.
  While an inquiry is underway in committee, the committee is the 
proper forum for examination and debate of such allegations. Indeed, 
after a question actually relating to impeachment has been considered 
on the floor, the House returns to the conduct of its other business, 
and references to personal conduct on the part of the President may not 
be continued or repeated.
  Mr. GANSKE. Further parliamentary inquiry.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman will state his inquiry.
  Mr. GANSKE. Mr. Speaker, the other body, the Senate, has had already 
extensive comments and debates on their floor. Is the Chair telling me 
that Members of the House will not be able to refer to the Starr report 
until the Committee on the Judiciary handles this?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The other body is governed by different 
rules, and the gentleman is correct where the matter is not the pending 
impeachment business on the floor.
  Mr. GANSKE. Mr. Speaker, let me try to revise my remarks, and I will 
proceed.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman may proceed.
  Mr. GANSKE. Mr. Speaker, I guess the Speaker can tell me if I am out 
of order again.
  For a President to be effective, he must be trusted to tell the 
truth. I believe that the President should now do the honorable thing 
and resign.

                          ____________________