Darrell Issa: “In closing, Mr. Speaker, we hold these truths to be self- evident: one of them clearly is our right of free speech…”

“In closing, Mr. Speaker, we hold these truths to be self- evident: one of them clearly is our right of free speech; another, free association. But protecting from our government is what our Constitution is all about. My Democratic friends want to talk about the good workers; but the ranking member knows well there are good workers, and there are some that aren't good. There are workers who would never call and harass somebody, and there are people who have threatened Americans repeatedly. We have whistleblowers, and we have proof of that. We have wrongdoing. When you get harassed by the government or you simply want to make sure that you know what you said, you have the right to do it in 39 States. You have the right to do it in your State, but you may or may not have the right to do it in the other State which the Federal agency is calling you from. If you are a rancher--Fish and Wildlife, EPA, OSHA--these are not just names on a board; these are people who really affect your life and your liberty and your very commerce, your very ability to feed your family. The minority whip talked about the Federal workforce not having a choice except to keep working because they need the money and they can't strike. We are not going to that issue. In the vast majority of States, this is already the law. They don't need the Federal Government's approval to record.…”