[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 128 (Wednesday, September 23, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H8464]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           LET'S MAKE A DEAL

  (Mr. STEARNS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. STEARNS. Mr. Speaker, the White House today is sending signals 
that it would like to broker some type of deal in order to avoid a full 
inquiry via the impeachment process. But Mr. Speaker, Congress cannot 
shirk from its duty. We are obliged to have a full and open debate on 
the merits of whether or not we should go forward with a formal inquiry 
on impeachment.
  Let us not be unduly influenced by watching poll numbers. As the 
gentleman from Illinois (Chairman Henry Hyde) has said, ``Poll-taking 
is an art, not a science.'' The Framers of the Constitution knew this 
would not be an easy or pleasant task, but they did make provisions for 
such a possibility. We must remember, this is a Nation of laws, not 
daily opinion polls. Whether or not perjury was committed will be 
determined in due course, not by opinion polls, but as prescribed under 
the Constitution.

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