NEWS RELEASE FROM
CONGRESSMAN NEIL ABERCROMBIE
January 7, 1997

CONTACT: Michael Slackman(202) 225-2793

House Should Elect Interim Speaker

Article I, Section 2 of the Constitution requires the House of Representatives to choose a Speaker. It is customary at the commencement of every Congress for members of each party to vote for the candidate decided upon by his or her caucus. Because governance of the House conforms to the democratic principles which undergird our republic, there is no doubt that the votes of the majority will determine who shall be our Speaker.

Today, however, we are choosing a presiding officer in unprecedented circumstances. Never before has there been an election for Speaker in which one of the candidates stands formally accused by the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct of violating the rules of the House. It is not my intention today to argue the merits of the charges against Mr. Gingrich or what if any sanctions should be imposed. I focus instead on the implications of the Committee's Statement Of Alleged Violation for today's election for Speaker, for the Speakership as an institution, for the House of Representatives, and for our nation itself.

The facts are these: The Committee on Standards of Official Conduct alleges that Mr. Gingrich violated the rules of the House. As of this date the Committee has not completed its consideration of the case, and no resolution has been achieved. When resolution does occur, it may very well involve sanctions which make Mr. Gingrich ineligible to hold the post of Speaker.

Removal of a Speaker under those conditions would be debilitating for the House and the nation. It would cause chaos within the House and further undermine public confidence in democratic institutions. Even if resolution of the case against Mr. Gingrich does not result in his ineligibility for the Speakership, his election as Speaker at this time would be inadvisable for two reasons: (1) the time, attention and energy he must devote to his case will diminish the personal resources available for the discharge of his duties as Speaker of the House; and (2) the shadow of doubt and suspicion cast by the proceedings against him will undoubtedly fall on every action of the House and bring into question the integrity of this institution.

I believe, therefore, that until the case against Mr. Gingrich is resolved, the House should choose an interim Speaker. I reiterate my acknowledgement that the majority has the right to determine who that individual shall be. However, in order to ensure that the business of the House is conducted in an undistracted manner, free of doubts about the integrity of the institution and its governance, that person should be someone not involved in the ethical issues in which Mr. Gingrich finds himself enmeshed.