Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, we do not oppose House Resolution 529, the rule for the conference report on H.R. 3259, the Intelligence Authorization Act for fiscal year 1997, which the gentleman from Florida explained so well. We do, however, have concerns about the waivers of several standing House rules that the resolution provides, and wanted to mention them to the membership. The resolution protects against possible points of order, provisions that violate rules that prohibit conference committees from including provisions, one, that are outside the committee's scope; two, that are not germane to the legislation; three, that violate the Budget Act; and four, that provide appropriations in a legislative bill. The resolution also waives the 3-day layover rule, whose purpose is to ensure that Members have the opportunity to examine a conference agreement, and with respect to this particular measure, the classified annex to the report. We are not yet convinced that the House is so short on time just now that disregarding this important rule is necessary.”