Jim Sensenbrenner: “I wish to include in the Congressional Record an explanation for my decision not to participate in legislative…”

“I wish to include in the Congressional Record an explanation for my decision not to participate in legislative consideration of H.R. 5, the ``Help Efficient, Accessible, Low-Cost, Timely Healthcare (`HEALTH') Act of 2005.'' House Rule III(1) states: Every Member . . . shall vote on each question put, unless he has a direct personal or pecuniary interest in the event of such question. House precedents establish that ``where the subject matter before the House affects a class rather than individuals, the personal interest of Members who belong to the class is not such as to disqualify them from voting.'' As a result, House precedent has held that a Member's ownership of common stock in a corporation, ``was not, under House precedents, sufficient to disqualify him from voting on'' legislation that benefitted the corporation in which that Member held stock. I currently own shares in at least two corporations that may benefit from the enactment of H.R. 5. Shares of these corporations are generally held, and do not represent ``uniquely-held'' financial interests. As a result, my participation in legislative consideration of H.R. 5 would not appear to violate current House Rules and established precedent. However, as in all matters susceptible to subjective examination, there are no bright line rules to determine whether a Member should not participate in legislation that may benefit that Member in a personal or financial manner.…”