Hon. Michael G. Oxley: “I rise in opposition to this misguided approach. If indeed, as the gentleman from Texas told us in his initial remarks…”

“I rise in opposition to this misguided approach. If indeed, as the gentleman from Texas told us in his initial remarks, this is an issue that only affects 1 percent of the Members, we are going to basically put 99 percent of the Members by his own words under this micro-managed cockamamie plan that he has got to somehow make 435 of us defendants and having to hire lawyers to determine who and when we can go out to lunch with. Nothing could be more ludicrous. This is like treatment Members of Congress like some kindergarten kids that we have got to somehow micro-manage and pass laws to correct. It is just absolutely ludicrous. I find it personally demeaning. I think every Member here should find it personally demeaning to think that we have to operate under some kind of rules like this and then somehow to have to look at that chart every time we determine whether we are going to go out of the house or not or leave the office. I am really disappointed, frankly. I have a great deal of respect for my friend from Texas, who I serve with on the Committee on Energy and Commerce, but in this case, I think he has entirely missed the boat. If he wants to make some things that are reportable and allow the press to do what they do best, and that is to report all of these things and let the Member make his own explanations, that is fine. But do not try to tell me that I cannot do this or I cannot do that.”