[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 10841]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   I CANNOT SUPPORT A TAINTED PROCESS

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                        HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, June 29, 2012

  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today because I cannot support a 
tainted process. Congress generally, and the Oversight and Government 
Reform Committee specifically, has the duty and obligation to provide 
effective oversight. Congress should not be interrupted in that 
process, but neither should that process be sullied.
  Under the Constitution, Congress has the authority to compel 
testimony and issue subpoenas. When the President of the United States 
exercises the right of Executive Privilege and there is a dispute over 
whether that exercise is a valid one, the matter should then be 
referred to the courts. I have stated this publicly and frequently. 
While Congress has the authority to compel the information being 
protected by the Presidential exercise of privilege, the process by 
which H.R. 706 has been brought to the floor has been tainted.
  I voted for the Motion to Refer brought by Congressman John Dingell 
which called for a real investigation. The Majority on the Committee on 
Oversight and Government Reform rejected all Democratic witnesses. They 
would not allow Michael Mukasey, former Attorney General, and Kenneth 
Melson, former director of the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and 
Explosives to testify before the Committee. While Congress has the 
authority take this to the courts, it is premature to use this 
authority before a full investigation has been conducted.
  Secondly, I cannot support the injudicious context in which H.R. 706 
finds its way before us today. This could be a meritorious process, but 
it has been tainted with partisan vitriol. This takes a fundamental 
right of Congress and propels it into a realm of partisan action with 
wild charges and abuse of power. There have been charges of 
Presidential cover-up, despite the Chairman of the Committee admitting 
there is no such evidence.
  Both parties should have been able to work this out before we got to 
this situation. This is not how Congress should have proceeded. I 
cannot dignify a tainted process. I have joined my colleagues in 
abstaining from voting, on H.R. 706 as well H.R. 711.

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