[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 53 (Thursday, April 22, 2004)]
[House]
[Page H2300]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY

  Mr. INSLEE. Mr. Speaker, I have a parliamentary inquiry.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman will state it.
  Mr. INSLEE. Mr. Speaker, is it appropriate for the Speaker, who 
presides over this Chamber, when there is a clear and direct personal 
attack using personally disparaging comments about a Member of the 
United States Senate on a repeated basis, is it appropriate or 
allowable for the Speaker to interject and prohibit that activity, even 
without a Member of the Chamber expressing a concern?
  In other words, does the Speaker have the ability to exercise 
preemptory power to enforce the rules of this House when there is a 
sneak attack disparaging the personal integrity of a U.S. Senator?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. That is the Speaker's role, and the Member 
should have seen the Chair admonish those not following the rules.

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