TJ Cox: “it is well, as we conclude debate and prepare to vote, that we recall what it is that is contained in the resolution…”

“it is well, as we conclude debate and prepare to vote, that we recall what it is that is contained in the resolution before us. This is a resolution that will grant the staff attorneys, not the staff but the staff attorneys, former U.S. attorneys, of the Committee on Government Reform and Oversight, the ability to conduct depositions in preparation for hearings by the full committee. The previous speaker spoke instead to the issue of subpoenas, and he said, incorrectly, that never before in history has the chairman had the power unilaterally to issue subpoenas. I first point out, that is not what this resolution provides. It does not provide anything about subpoenas. But for the Record, I would also point out that for the entirety of the Democratic control of Congress over a 40-year period that was precisely what was the rule, and for the most recent Democratic Congress, the 103d Congress, let me quote from the Committee on Government Operations, the House of Representatives, rule XVIII: ``The chairman of the full committee shall authorize and issue subpoenas.'' It does not say anything even about consultation with the minority, let alone concurrence. Second, with respect to staff depositions themselves, over and over and over again this authority has been granted by this Congress in precisely this way. This was the rule for the Iran-Contra investigation.”