Jon L. Christensen: “I would like to identify myself with the remarks of the previous speaker. I agree. And today's debate would not be…”

“I would like to identify myself with the remarks of the previous speaker. I agree. And today's debate would not be needed if last week's event would not have occurred during the Treasury-Postal debate. It was last week that we were supposed to be debating this type of motion and this issue. I walked onto the floor ready to talk about the issue, and whether you believe in the COLA or whether you disagree with the COLA, what we were talking about was a vote on the issue. I was here, ready to talk about it. I stepped into the cloakroom and made a phone call, and by the time I came out, it had been slipped through and we voted on it, and it passed. What we are talking about here is open, honest government. It is not about whether we deserve or do not deserve a COLA. What we are talking about is integrity in the institution. Like the gentleman from Wisconsin talked about earlier, whether you believe in it or do not believe in it, it is not right to be deceitful and deceiving the American people. Mr. Speaker, I urge strong approval of this motion. Vote against the rule.”