John Sarbanes: “I say to the distinguished minority leader, when this resolution was enacted under which the special committee has been…”

“I say to the distinguished minority leader, when this resolution was enacted under which the special committee has been operated with the February 29 deadline, was it not the recognized intention at the time that this was in an effort to keep it out of the political season? In fact, the chairman of the committee, Senator D'Amato, stated when we were before the Rules Committee--and I quote him--``We wanted to keep it out of that political arena. That is why we decided to come forth with just the 1-year request.'' And I, in appearing with him before the Rules Committee, stated, ``I think it is important to try to finish this inquiry, to be very candid about it, and not take it into an election year with the appearance and the aspect that it is an election-year political effort.'' I say to the leader, was it not the understanding at the time that we wished to keep it out of the political season, a view expressed by both Republicans and Democrats?”