Rules Committee row causes Sessions to storm out
By Jackie Kucinich
July 27, 2007
An altercation Friday in the House Rules Committee, which prompted one Republican to storm out of a meeting, led the lawmaker to charge that the actions of the panel’s chairwoman have shown she is no longer capable of leading.
During a meeting to discuss the Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2007, an exchange between Chairwoman Louise Slaughter (D-N.Y.) and Rep. Pete Sessions (R-Texas) turned rancorous after Slaughter cut off the Texas lawmaker.
Accounts differ regarding what led to the dust-up.
According to Sessions, Slaughter gave his speaking time to another member seeking recognition, but not the lawmaker whom Sessions wanted to speak.
Sessions claims that, after he asked whether he was in control of his time, Slaughter replied, “You are in control of your time, but I control the committee.” Upon hearing this, he stormed out of the room.
However, according to a transcript shown to The Hill, Slaughter tried to yield to a lawmaker who had been trying to speak and inquired as to whether Sessions would permit Rep. Robert Andrews (D-N.J.) to speak.
“In my nine years on the committee no member who sat on the committee or came before the committee has ever been treated with discourtesy at all,” Sessions said in an interview after the incident. “The facts are obvious — she showed blatant disrespect for a member of the committee.”
:nopity: :cry: :nopity: :cry: :nopity: :cry:
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http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/rules-committee-row-causes-sessions-to-storm-out-2007-07-27.html