Stephanie Herseth Sandlin: “Mr. Chairman, what are the Republicans trying to hide with H.R. 1115? Who are they are trying to protect? Do the names…”

“Mr. Chairman, what are the Republicans trying to hide with H.R. 1115? Who are they are trying to protect? Do the names WorldCom, Enron and Arthur Andersen strike a familiar note? Our colleagues on the other side of the aisle are jumping up and down like rodeo dogs trying to claim that they are interested in protecting individuals. Now, is that not a fine kettle of fish? They must mean individuals like Ken Lay, Jeff Skilling, Bernie Ebbers and the CEOs of corporate wrongdoers who enrich themselves at the expense of American families and pensioners. Oh, now, I understand. Those are the individuals who we are protecting. Mr. Chairman, these CEOs do not need further protections. They have the fifth amendment and they use it all the time. Individual groups, the real individual groups such as the American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association, the American Lung Association, CWA, MALDEF, National Education Association, National Women's Health Network, SEIU, United Church of Christ, NAACP, true individuals oppose this legislation. They are the ones that need protections.”