George Miller: “in 1993, the Ethics Committee explicitly cautioned Speaker Gingrich to avoid using congressional resources in…”

“in 1993, the Ethics Committee explicitly cautioned Speaker Gingrich to avoid using congressional resources in conjunction with his course on American civilization. He rejected that advice and promoted the course from the House floor. Now that he is being challenged on that he is trying to use the Constitution to defend his speech on the House floor. The Speaker cannot have it both ways. The same Speaker that barred the gentlewoman from Florida, Congresswoman Carrie Meek, from discussing the Speaker's book deal on the House floor is now saying that a Member can say virtually anything on the House floor because it is protected speech under the Constitution. Speaker Gingrich said yesterday in his press conference: "It is totally legitimate for a Member of Congress to stand up on the floor of the House and say virtually anything. Nothing the Ethics Committee advises can supersede the constitutional provisions of speech and debate." The speech and debate clause of article I of the Constitution, however, is solely designed to protect Members of Congress from being questioned in any other place, meaning that a Member cannot be prosecuted or held liable for anything he or she says on the House floor. We all know the House has rules that explicitly forbid Members of Congress from doing this, as the Speaker was advised by the Ethics Committee in promoting his book.”