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[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 93 (Thursday, June 8, 1995)]
[House]
[Pages H5696-H5698]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

                               THE TRUTH

  (Mr. HOKE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. HOKE. Mr. Speaker, one after another after another of our liberal 
colleagues take to the well to carp, to moan, to deceive and to 
distort. * * * They can say the most outlandish things with such ease, 
you would swear that it was Mephistopheles himself that was up there 
speaking.
  For instance, they say that Republicans are drastically cutting 
Medicare. It is not true and they know it. Far from cutting Medicare, 
Republicans are strengthening the program and saving it from certain 
bankruptcy as said so by the trustees of the program itself. * * * 
  It is there. Why are my----
  Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I would ask that the 
gentleman's words be taken down. Twice during this time, he called the 
Members of Congress liars and I would like to have those words taken 
down or an apology issued.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. LaTourette). The gentleman will suspend 
and the Clerk will report the words.

                        parliamentary inquiries

  Mr. LINDER. Mr. Speaker, I have a parliamentary inquiry.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman will state it.
  Mr. LINDER. Mr. Speaker, if the appropriate rule with respect to 
accusations of untruths arise, does it require [[Page H5697]] you 
specify a certain Member of Congress? In other words, must it be 
specific as to a certain Member?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair will not issue an anticipatory 
ruling. The Chair will wait until the words of the gentleman have been 
reported by the Clerk.
  Mr. WISE. Mr. Speaker, I have a parliamentary inquiry.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman will state it.
  Mr. WISE. Mr. Speaker, I think the gentleman raises an important 
point which I would like to frame as an inquiry in the same vein. When 
would be the proper time to do that?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. At the conclusion of the disposition of the 
Clerk reporting the words of the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Hoke].

                              {time}  1025

  Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, if we could also make sure a 
sentence before the term ``liar'' or ``liars'' is used so we can see 
the total context, if that is possible.
  Mr. VOLKMER. I have a parliamentary inquiry, Mr. Speaker.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. LaTourette). The gentleman will state 
his parliamentary inquiry.
  Mr. VOLKMER. Mr. Speaker, while the gentleman's words are being taken 
down, where is the gentleman supposed to be? Where is the gentleman 
supposed to be while his words are being taken down?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman is required to be seated.
  Mr. VOLKMER. He has not been seated, he has been speaking with the 
Parliamentarian.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Ohio will please be 
seated.
  Mr. HOKE. Mr. Speaker?
  The SPEAKER pro temore. For what purpose does the gentleman rise?
  Mr. HOKE. To request unanimous consent that the word ``lies'' be 
stricken and to proceed.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Ohio?
  Mr. VOLKMER. Reserving the right to object, Mr. Speaker----
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Missouri will proceed 
with his reservation.
  Mr. VOLKMER. At this time will the gentleman apologize for using the 
words to this House?
  Mr. HOKE. Mr. Speaker, my understanding with respect to this--
having----
  May I answer the question?
  Mr. WELDON of Pennsylvania. Regular order, Mr. Speaker.
  Mr. HOKE. My understanding is that references in general to the 
entire group, either of Republicans or Democrats, with respect to that 
word are in fact in order. But I am willing to withdraw that word, and 
if we are going to move in a different direction with respect to that, 
I have no problem with it in the future. But, and so I feel perfectly, 
so I think the proper thing to do is to ask unanimous consent to 
withdraw the word.
  Mr. VOLKMER. Will the gentleman also issue an apology--I am reserving 
the right to object--to this House for using that word in the House?
  Mr. HOKE. The word, that word has been used many times in the context 
of general spoken admonition to an entire group by both sides. If we 
are going to go in a different direction, that is fine with me.
  Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, continuing to reserve the right 
to object, could we possibly have the words read to the House, both the 
sentence before, and frankly in two cases during the 1 minute of my 
colleague I heard the word ``liar.'' I would like to hear both of them.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. It is the Chair's understanding that the 
Clerk has been transcribing that for some time now. Does the gentleman 
continue under his reservation?
  Mr. WISE. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield under his 
reservation?
  Mr. VOLKMER. I yield to the gentleman from West Virginia.
  Mr. WISE. Mr. Speaker, my concern, I would say to the gentleman from 
Ohio, is yes, there is in the precedent a general application of the 
word. However, then you get down to the question, and this is what I 
would propound to the Chair at the appropriate time, you get down to 
making it more and more specific. In this case several Members on this 
side of the aisle had risen to make certain statements about Medicare. 
I think it can be reasonably inferred that the gentleman's remarks went 
directly to them, not to a body at large, and that is why the apology 
is sought.
  Mr. HOKE. Well, I would disagree with you. I think when the words are 
respoken or reread you will see that the words are very general in 
nature; they have to do with liberal colleagues, and that is who is 
being spoken to. The word ``liar'' is not there; the word ``lies'' is 
there. And it has nothing to do with a specific person. It is not 
directed to a specific person, and I would just as soon have it 
clarified. If we are not going to use the word ``lies'' to describe 
untruths in the future and we use the word untruths, then let that be 
the new rule, but at least let us have consistency with respect to 
this. If we can use the word ``lies'' to describe words that are spoken 
regarding a----
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman will suspend.
  Mr. HOKE. Then we will do it that way.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman will suspend.
  The Clerk will report the words.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       One after another after another of our liberal colleagues 
     take to the well to carp, to moan, to deceive and to distort. 
     The lies roll off their tongues so easily. They can say the 
     most outlandish things with such ease, you would swear that 
     it was Mephistopheles himself that was up there speaking.
       For instance, they say that Republicans are drastically 
     cutting Medicare. It is not true, and they know it.
       Far from cutting Medicare, Republicans are strengthening 
     the programs and saving it from certain bankruptcy as said so 
     by the trustees of the program itself. They tell the same 
     lies about the programs for children, about education, about 
     nutrition, you name it.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Does the gentleman renew his unanimous-
consent request?
  Mr. VOLKMER. I object, Mr. Speaker.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. LaTourette). An objection has been 
heard.
  The Chair is prepared to rule.
  The Chair's ruling is that the use of the word ``lies'' in that 
context as it relates to specific Members and generally as it relates 
under the Rules of the House regarding Members' participation in 
debate, is inappropriate and is a breach of decorum.
  Mr. VOLKMER. Is inappropriate?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is inappropriate and a breach of decorum.
  Mr. VOLKMER. And the gentleman's words will be stricken?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without objection, the words will be 
stricken.
  There was no objection.

                        parliamentary inquiries

  Mr. WISE. I have a parliamentary inquiry, Mr. Speaker.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman will state his inquiry.
  Mr. WISE. Mr. Speaker, does that also mean that since the gentleman's 
words were stricken, the gentleman is not permitted to take the floor 
for the rest of the day?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without objection, the gentleman may proceed 
in order.
  Mr. WISE. Reserving the right to object, I presume the Chair is 
making that unanimous-consent request on its own, because I did not 
hear a unanimous-consent request that the gentleman be permitted to 
take the floor. Would some other gentleman wish to?
  Mr. LINDER. Mr. Speaker in keeping with the policies of the past 2\1/
2\ years that I have been here, I would like to ask unanimous consent 
that the gentleman be allowed to be maintained on his feet on the floor 
of the House.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Georgia?
  There was no objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. It is so ordered. The gentleman from Ohio 
[Mr. Hoke] may proceed in order.
  The gentleman has 15 seconds remaining.
  Mr. HOKE. Why are my liberal colleagues so shall we say economical 
with the truth? Because they are in a panic, they have no new ideas to 
offer, no alternatives to pose, no plans of their own. They still do 
not understand what happened last November. Will they say anything and 
will they do anything to regain the power that they feel is their 
birthright? I believe they [[Page H5698]] will. Maybe it will take 
another election to prove this.

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