[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 68 (Friday, May 26, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E972]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      CONGRESS REAPS WHAT IT SOWS

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                       HON. C. L. ``BUTCH'' OTTER

                                of idaho

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 25, 2006

  Mr. OTTER. Mr. Speaker, there has been an awful lot of talk the last 
few days about the FBI's Saturday night raid on the office of a 
Democrat U.S. Congressman. It's tough for me to get too excited about 
the howls of protest from members of Congress. I understand their 
concerns about protecting the independence of the legislative branch 
and possible abuse of executive powers. But it makes me wonder: Where 
were these voices of outrage and righteous indignation when we learned 
the executive branch was monitoring the telephone conversations of 
ordinary Americans? Where were they when the executive branch sought, 
and the USA PATRIOT ACT granted, more power to search the homes and 
businesses of ordinary Americans without notification? At least we know 
there was a legitimate warrant issued by a judge for the search of the 
Congressman's office. Are my honorable colleagues suggesting that 
members of Congress or the institution itself should be treated 
differently in the eyes of the law than those who hold the most 
important position in America--that of ``citizen''? I hope not.

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