July 29, 1994 - Part 2
July 29, 1994 - Part 2
(12:25:27) 41 Essentially, Mr. Chairman, we have three levels of inquiry: The first, whether or not any laws were broken, The second, whether there were appropriate ethics policies and procedures in place, and were any of those policies or procedures violated. And third, putting everything else aside, in the opinion of the average common sense person, were these matters handled appropriately. As to the first level of inquiry, we already know from the Committee's review so far-I'm sorry, Mr. Chairman. I will file the rest of my remark for the record. I would just like to conclude by saying I was sitting here listening to my colleagues. I come from a State that had Paul Douglas as its U.S. Senator and I happen to sit at Paul Douglas' desk on the Floor. I pulled out his "Book of Ethics in Government," to review while I was sitting here. It is amazing to me, Mr. Chairman, how this book, written many years ago, has such relevance to the bearings before us. I think the most important point that Paul Douglas made is how important it is that we, who are in public life, have an obligation to give citizens a sense that their Government is an honest one, and that their Government officials are treated appropriately with the public trust. I believe that is what you are trying to do with these bearings. I am sure that is what all wellmeaning Members of this Committee would like to do, I suggest that we move expeditiously but carefully to the conclusion of these hearings because we have yet to handle and address a number of huge issues before the Congress, not the least of which is Health Care. I'd like to get on with the business of the Committee and get this matter resolved. Thank you. The CHAIRMAN. Thank you, Senator Moseley-Braun, Senator Murray. (12:27:07) OPENING STATEMENT OF SENATOR PATTY MURRAY Senator MURRAY. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It's not easy going last,but you know, I don't mind my seat on this Committee. I'm all the way down here by the people I and I think it gives me a good perspective. As I went through I (the depositions and documents, I kept asking myself a few questions in search for the answers. Did the White House or the Treasury Department try to obstruct justice? Did anyone in the Administration try to influence any criminal or civil investigations? Was there any improper conduct? Those are the questions that we all must focus on. I am aware of the conclusions of the Fiske Report, and I have great faith in the integrity of his investigation. This Committee Covers the same ground. We're going to hear reconstructions of conversations and thoughts. Some of them occurred a year ago. Some of them were no more than scribbles on a page or a casual chat." A few of them were fairly substantial meetings. All of them took lace as this Administration and Congress were hammering out landmark legislation that really matters to the American people. But again, as we bear the testimony before this Committee, I will be asking myself the ultimate questions. Was information misused? Were investigations hampered? Was justice obstructed? And again, I have great faith in the Fiske investigation and his report to us. I have spent. an enormous amount of time on this issue, as 42 have all of my colleagues. It's made my long days longer and as I sit here down by the people and we begin the testimony today on the Vince Foster suicide, I have to wonder what kind of place is this, our Nation's capital? I came to Washington, DC, the same time Vincent Foster came here, and I know now what he meant when be wrote `%ere ruining people is considered sport." I agree with my colleagues who have said the Foster family has endured enough. Mr. Chairman, these days, with the media frenzy over even the most minor incidents, I wonder who will follow us in public service. What kind of a lesson is this for our kids? Let us all remember what integrity really means. Let us all remember about personal responsibility, all of us, those at the witness table, those in the audience, those who are listening, and of course, those around this dais. All of us should keep in mind our own personal responsibility for words we say and actions we take during this bearing. The stakes here are greater than an S&L in Arkansas. It is greater than this Administration or my tenure as a U.S. Senator. It is integrity and personal responsibility. And sometimes we lose that perspective and when we do, the victims are this great republic and the future leadership of this Nation. It is my hope that this hearing will allow us to la the facts on the table in a civil manner, to assess them rationally and determine their impact on the conduct of this Nation's business. Thank you Mr. Chairman.