John Hope Bryant: “I am glad we are moving to the end of this debate. I think it has been a good debate. We have strong words that have…”

“I am glad we are moving to the end of this debate. I think it has been a good debate. We have strong words that have been spoken throughout it. Strong feelings, of course, exist on both sides. In fact, we are trying to pass a bill today that has a 15-year history, a noble history. We would like to see it reinstated basically as it has functioned in the past. The bill that is on the floor today would accomplish that, with some notable improvements that I think are constructive and respond to what we have learned during the operation of the statute during the last 15 years. The Hyde substitute which is before us for the next vote, in my view, would move us away from what we have learned with regard to the operation of the act, and I think take us away also from common sense. One point that has been made well here, and ought to be made again, is that if you do what is in the Hyde substitute and include mandatory coverage of Members of Congress, rather than keeping it optional, and also require Congress to vote every year on the appropriation for the independent counsel, then obviously you will be building into the law an enormous conflict of interest.”