On the recordMay 19, 2015
I thank the gentleman. I appreciate listening to you, and it reminds me of a conversation I had on the floor of the House last week. As you know, I have been here 20 years. I came with Newt Gingrich, and Bill Clinton was the President. We did some good things for the American people, so I am kind of an older man, so to speak. I vote my conscience up here, and it gets me in trouble. I voted twice against the Speaker of the House, and it got me in trouble, but I do what I think is right. I was sitting on the floor, and this gentleman--I will not say his name or where he is from because I don't have permission to do that. He came up to me and said, ``Walter, I am probably going to--'' He is 20 years younger than I am. I am 72 now. He said, ``I am probably going to be like you,'' and he is a Republican. He said, ``I will probably be like you and will never be a chairman or a ranking member of anything because I cannot do anything that would dampen or threaten my integrity.'' I said, ``What do you mean?'' He said, ``Well, in January, I was told that I could be a subcommittee chairman, but I would have to raise $300,000.'' The point that you are trying to make tonight--and you are doing a good job--with John Sarbanes' bill, H.R. 20, which I hope people look up, as well as with your resolution, is that too oftentimes--and I will say in both parties--we have people in leadership who say you have to raise X amount of dollars if you want to be a chairman.…
