[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 17]
[Senate]
[Page 23729]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        REPUBLICAN RULES CHANGE

  (Mr. PALLONE asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, this morning, House Republicans are meeting 
here on Capitol Hill to vote on a change to their conference rules. A 
new rule would allow an indicted leader to continue in his position as 
leader if the indictment comes from a State grand jury.
  Can my colleagues imagine that? If House Republicans make this rule 
change, they are condoning unethical behavior at the State level by 
their own leaders here in the House. The American people should be 
outraged by this arrogant behavior.
  Back in 1993, Republicans made the change in their rules to 
demonstrate to the American people that they were not above the law, 
that if they ran this House, the American people would not have to 
worry about ethical problems, that Republicans would hold themselves to 
a higher standard.
  Now, however, it appears that higher standard is gone. House 
Republicans are saying they are willing to stand behind one of their 
leaders after he is indicted by a State grand jury. It does not matter 
the charge. The Republicans simply do not care. But I am betting that 
the American people will care, Mr. Speaker.

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