Lamar Smith: “I know many Democrats who love our country, who are dedicated public servants, and who are men and women of integrity.…”

“I know many Democrats who love our country, who are dedicated public servants, and who are men and women of integrity. In the coming hours and days, I hope they will listen to their conscience, what they know in their heart is right, and take some action to stop a corruption of the legislative process. If a new health care system is worthy of being enacted, it is worthy of being debated and voted on in an honest and straightforward way. Anything less is a stain on Congress and diminishes our great country. How we conduct ourselves goes beyond a single bill. It will signal to those across the land, and perhaps to those in other lands, whether we deserve their respect or have justified their ridicule.”