Richard K. Armey: “10 good men and women from this body, 5 from each side of the aisle, have responded to the request of their colleagues…”

“10 good men and women from this body, 5 from each side of the aisle, have responded to the request of their colleagues and their leadership to serve on the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct, known as the ethics committee. They have taken a responsibility on that most of us would shun, most of us would avoid, and they have done so with integrity, discipline, and the confidentiality required by the rules of the House. These 10 good men and women deserve to be respected and appreciated. They do not deserve to have their work or their integrity called into question by people who are so full of zeal for vengeance on another of our Members they would ask this committee to violate its own standards. I have seen a lot of speeches given from the well of the House, but never have I seen speeches that expressed so much disdain and lack of regard and appreciation for those 10 among us who would take on the toughest job we have to do. I would suggest apologies are in order.”