[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 79 (Wednesday, June 15, 2005)]
[House]
[Page H4492]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    REPUBLICAN ABUSES OF POWER: SILENCING OPPOSITION TO PATRIOT ACT

  (Ms. WATSON asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, the Committee on the Judiciary chairman 
turned the lights off on democracy last Friday morning when he halted a 
hearing on the PATRIOT Act in which opposition voices were given time. 
After Friday's hearing, it was clear that the chairman does not like to 
hear from those that do not agree with his opinion; certainly, an abuse 
to the freedom of speech.
  During the hearing, the chairman scolded both Democratic Members and 
panelists; and when he did not agree with a comment, he demanded 
panelists wrap it up. When he got really mad, he just gaveled the 
hearing to an end and stormed out of the room. What appalling behavior 
for a distinguished leader.
  Then, as Democratic members tried to continue the hearing, the 
microphones in the room were turned off. When that did not silence my 
Democratic colleagues, the Republicans finally turned off the lights.
  Mr. Speaker, some congressional Republicans are abusing their power 
over this House to silence any opposition to either them or to the Bush 
administration. The gentleman from Wisconsin (Chairman Sensenbrenner) 
should not only apologize to everyone who attended Friday's hearing, 
but to every Member of this House. That is simply not the way the 
people's House is supposed to work, and it is time this arrogance 
stops.

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