Richard K. Armey: “Mr. Chairman, equal access under the law. Equal justice for all. The compassionate Nation providing legal resources to…”

“Mr. Chairman, equal access under the law. Equal justice for all. The compassionate Nation providing legal resources to obtain these things for the poor and the itinerate in this population. These are great principles. They are honorable principles. They are principles we all embrace and principles we are willing to support. These are principles, Mr. Chairman, that we have entrusted to the Legal Services Corporation. We have said, ``This is an important job. It is a job where you are trusted to reflect the heart, the compassion, the commitment of the American people. Do it right. Be of service. Make us proud.'' Mr. Chairman, the Legal Services Corporation has failed in this duty. They have failed in such a way as to inflate the statistical data for the purpose of getting more of that money that might be otherwise used. Mr. Chairman, in February of 1999, John McKay, the President of Legal Services Corporation said, and I quote, ``Case statistics play an essential role in budget requests and the performance plan submitted by the Legal Services Corporation to Congress each year.'' He went on to say, ``Therefore, the reliability of case statistics''--therefore, the reliability of case statistics-- reliability, that it be true and accurate. That is what ``reliability'' means here.…”