Political Quotes

“Yesterday I asked a parliamentary inquiry regarding the effect of a letter from Mr. Rangel to the Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, regarding his resignation as chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means, to wit, the Speaker pro tempore of the House answered that the gentleman from California, Representative Pete Stark, became acting chair of the Committee on Ways and Means immediately by operation of House rule X clause 5. This morning the acting chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means, Mr. Stark, submitted a letter to the Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, that states, ``I hereby resign as acting chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means.'' That letter to the Speaker was read into today's proceedings. At that time the Speaker pro tempore in accepting the letter stated, ``The resignation is accepted.'' I have a parliamentary inquiry regarding the nature of that resignation. Under this morning's procedure, is Mr. Stark the current chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means? The SPEAKER pro tempore. The House this morning accepted the resignation of the gentleman from California (Mr. Stark) as acting chair of the Committee on Ways and Means. Pursuant to clause 5(c) of rule X, the member of that committee next in rank, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Levin) shall act as chair.”