Jasper Packard: “honesty, fairness, and dealing justly with others has been an overriding principle of my entire life. The Speaker…”

“honesty, fairness, and dealing justly with others has been an overriding principle of my entire life. The Speaker admitted he made mistakes. I believe this body should admonish the Speaker's actions. However, the Ethics Committee's recommendations go much too far. The penalty far exceeds the infraction. First and foremost, the Ethics Committee serves to ensure fairness. With that in mind, the Committee must level equitable sanctions. This recommendation fails to do so. In the past, the Committee chose to dispense with similar matters with a letter against the offender. For violations, which I consider morally and ethically far worse, Members were given little more than a perfunctory slap on the hand. I consider this action against the Speaker excessive and unwarranted. For that reason, I intend to vote against the Ethics Committee's recommendation. A letter of reproval should be sufficient as it was for the Minority Leader, Richard Gephardt; Minority Whip, David Bonior and for violations far more serious than the Speaker's.”