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Pelosi: Reversal on Rules is a Victory for the American People

April 27, 2005

Pelosi: Reversal on Rules is a Victory for the American People

Contact: Brendan Daly/Jennifer Crider, 202-226-7616

Wednesday, April 27, 2005

Washington, D.C. - House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi spoke on the House floor this evening in favor of H.Res. 240, which reversed the Republicans' partisan ethics rules that were adopted in January. The resolution passed by a vote of 406 to 20, thereby restoring the bipartisan ethics rules that were in place since 1997. Below are Pelosi's remarks:

"Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the resolution before us. This is a great day for the American people. Across the country, they have spoken out, and editorial boards have reflected their views throughout our nation that not any one of us is above the law. No Member of Congress is above the law.

"I come to this podium as the House Democratic Leader, but I would also note that I bring to my office that I serve in now and to this podium the experience of serving on the House Ethics Committee for six years, and an additional seventh year to be part of the Livingston-Cardin Task Force that wrote the rules we have been talking about this evening.

"We came together in a bipartisan way, hammered out all of the challenges that people proposed and came up with bipartisan rules. When we did that, we were acting in the tradition of the Ethics Committee in the House of Representatives -- bipartisan in nature in terms of writing the rules and implementing them.

"My friends, we should all be deeply indebted to all the Members who have served on the bipartisan Ethics Committee. Anyone who has served there will tell you it's not an easy task, and one that any one of us would like to avoid. It's very hard to pass judgment on your peers.

"We took our responsibility to act in a bipartisan way very seriously, and so should the Ethics Committee with the rules that we will be returning to this evening. It should be taken in the most serious way and I hope that we will have a big vote tonight, and that big vote will show not only our support for the resolution, but our respect for the Ethics Committee and the need to act in a bipartisan way.

"One concern that I do have that hasn't been addressed tonight is something that has happened not by a rules change, but by a one-time practice. This book is called the House Rules and Manual, and it determines how we function in the House and how each of the committees function. This rule says here about the Ethics Committee: 'All staff members shall be appointed by an affirmative vote by a majority of the Committee.'

"The rules governing staffing have been the standing rules of the House since the bipartisan taskforce recommendations were adopted in the 105th Congress. They were in place in the 106th, 107th, and the 108th Congresses. They are indeed the rules of the House now, even without action being taken tonight.

"Central to a bipartisan upholding of a high ethical standing is the nonpartisan staffing of the Ethics Committee. Certainly the Chair and Ranking Member have their staff person for liaison purposes to the Ethics Committee, but the work of the Ethics Committee must be done in a nonpartisan way. Those are the rules of the House. They have been departed from in this Congress.

"So I would hope that it is implied in what we do here that the intent of Congress is to obey the rules of the House. If anyone has a different view of the intent of Congress, regarding the hiring of staff for the Ethics Committee in a nonpartisan way, I think that person should speak up now because the intent of the Congress should be clear, unequivocal, and not controversial.

"I want to especially commend those who served in the last Congress, especially Mr. Hefley, and I agree you Mr. Hefley wholeheartedly. If there are rules changes that need to be made, let's subject those rules to the scrutiny Members feel they should have and let's do it in a bipartisan way.

"In fact, there are at least two occasions that I have brought that very proposal to the House floor in a privileged resolution to say: 'Let's form a bipartisan task force to examine the rules and see how we go forward.' We can still do that, but we can't do it until these rules are in place for the Ethics Committee to function and then to review them.

"I commend Mr. Mollohan. I am so very proud of the dignified way he approached his responsibility to uphold a high ethical standard. And Mr. Hastings, you are absolutely right. We will not compromise ever on the integrity of the House. I support your statement.

"And as we return to bipartisanship in holding a high ethical standard in the House, let us also heed the voice of the American people who want us to return to bipartisan cooperation in growing our economy so we can create good paying jobs in our country. Let us expand access to affordable health care to all Americans.

"That is what the American people want us to do. Let us work in a bipartisan way to broaden opportunity for our children so that no child is left behind and our children can go to college without going into crushing debt. Let us listen to the American people who want us to work in a bipartisan way to truly protect our homeland, to protect Social Security and let us listen to the American people when they say: 'We need relief at the pump now. We cannot pay these high prices at the pump; we cannot pay these high prices at the pharmacy.'

"I contend, Mr. Speaker, that ethics impacts policy. Integrity of the House should be unquestioned, and part of our responsibility is to uphold that high ethical standard. But ethics does impact policy. The American people must believe that we are working in this House for the public interest, not the special interest. A higher ethical standard is essential to creating policy that is consistent with our values.

"I support this resolution. I urge my colleagues to vote for it, and I hope that the strong vote that it will receive will not only speak to the resolution, but speak to the respect that we all have for the ethics process and the Ethics Committee for upholding a high ethical standard, and saying that not anyone of us is above the law."

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