OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Amending the Rules of the House of Representatives to Reinstate Certain Provisions of the Rules Relating to the Procedures of the Committee on...

By: Tom Cole
By: Tom Cole
Date: April 27, 2005
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Legislative Branch


AMENDING THE RULES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TO REINSTATE CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF THE RULES RELATING TO PROCEDURES OF THE COMMITTEE ON STANDARDS OF OFFICIAL CONDUCT TO THE FORM IN WHICH THOSE PROVISIONS EXISTED AT THE CLOSE OF THE 108th CONGRESS -- (House of Representatives - April 27, 2005)

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Mr. COLE of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I rise to support this resolution because I am convinced that it is the right and proper way to address a tough partisan division that exists at this time. I thank the Speaker and the gentleman from Washington (Chairman Hastings) for their work in resolving this difficult issue.

As we move forward, Mr. Speaker, I think we would be well advised to operate according to the spirit of a statement once made by John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist Church. He said: "Differences that begin in points of opinion seldom terminate there. How unwilling men are to grant anything good in those who do not in all things agree with themselves."

Mr. Speaker, people of both sides in this dispute have acted honorably; however, many have questioned the integrity of those who disagreed with them on the substance of the questions at hand. It is my sincere hope that we do not question the motives and the intentions of the members of the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct as we go about our work. There has been far too much division and imputation of motives with respect to questions surrounding the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct and the rules by which it operates. That hurts the Committee, it reflects poorly on the House, and undermines public confidence in the institution.

Mr. Speaker, with that said, I commend the Speaker and the chairman of the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct for setting us on the path to providing this House with a functioning ethics committee and, therefore, I request all Members support this important rule.

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