John Sarbanes: “I wish to point out to the Senator from New Mexico that this committee held 1 day of hearings in the last 9 days leading…”

“I wish to point out to the Senator from New Mexico that this committee held 1 day of hearings in the last 9 days leading up to the end of our time. The Iran-Contra Committee held hearings in 8 of the last 9 days leading up to the end of its time. Your leader, Senator Dole, with respect to the Iran-Contra Committee, insisted that it have a timeframe because, he said, it would not be fair to run that inquiry into the 1988 political year. The Democrats in the Congress, led by Chairman Hamilton and Chairman Inouye from the Senate, agreed with that. They provided a time limit, and then they met almost around the clock over the last month. They held 21 days of hearings in the last month in order to complete their work. Now, it was your leader who pressed that case very hard. And the Democrats responded to it, in all fairness. Now, this situation is in complete contrast.”