Porter Goss: “we have seen a good deal of hand-wringing and posturing these past few days on this floor and in the editorial pages of…”

“we have seen a good deal of hand-wringing and posturing these past few days on this floor and in the editorial pages of our Nation's major and minor newspapers about the ethics process. I guess that is to be expected, given that we are deep into the blatant partisan election-year politicking that often overtakes us every 2 years. And I suppose I should not be surprised that editorial writers have not studied the rule book of the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct or of this House, and, therefore, often write pieces that misstate or confuse facts. But I do expect more from Members of this institution, all of whom are bound by the rules of this House and all of whom have an obligation to improve in its credibility, not attempt to tear it further down. The fact is, however, that many of my friends on the other side of the aisle seem not to have read and understood the rules of the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct as prescribed in this little blue book. These rules clearly state that we on the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct are not permitted to do what my friends are so desperately trying to get us to do, and that is release information before our process is complete. Now, I have said before and I say again that I have long believed that the current process, as prescribed by the rules in this little blue book and our House rules, this process is in serious need of review and reform, and that is happening.”