OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Resolution Relating to the Consideration of House Report 113-415 and an Accompanying Resolution, and Providing for Consideration of H. Res. 565, Appointment of Special Counsel to Investigate Internal Revenue Service

Floor Speech

Date: May 7, 2014
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Taxes

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The standard is very high. If you have made it crystal clear that you intend to invoke your Fifth Amendment, it takes a lot to construe that has been waived. We Members of Congress who take that oath to the Constitution should err on the side of protection of constitutional rights, not simple waiver. But, of course, if our agenda isn't getting at the truth, if it is pandering to those two issues that polled so well with our base, Benghazi and IRS, then constitutional rights are incidental to the enterprise, and, sadly, that is what we are considering here today.

I don't think you have to be a Democrat or a Republican, a liberal or a conservative, to be concerned about protecting the constitutional rights of every citizen even for--and maybe especially for--non-heroic figures such as the woman we are dealing with today, Lois Lerner. Because when you trample on her rights, you have risked every American's rights. What is next? Who is next at the docket? While we are at it, when we are trampling the Fifth Amendment, what about the First? What about that sacred Second? What about the Fourth? What about any of those rights enumerated in the Bill of Rights?

This is not a noble enterprise we are about today, Mr. Speaker, and I urge this House to reject this rule and to reject the underlying contempt citation as not worthy of this body and not consistent with the oath each and every one of us takes.

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Mr. CONNOLLY. I thank my friend. Thirty-two legal experts have the other point of view. And, furthermore, I just say to my friend, if the answer to the House of Representatives is that if you want your constitutional rights to be protected, hire a lawyer, we will see you in court, that is not the oath we took.

It starts and stops here. What is the constitutional protection of citizens here on the floor of the House of Representatives? To simply say go hire a lawyer is a terrible message in terms of constitutional rights protection to the citizens of this country.

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