The provision is buried in the House Commerce-Justice-State- Judiciary Appropriations bill. The bill is expected to hit the House floor in the next few days.
Please e-mail, call, fax, or write your House Member to urge them to strike this new Congressional perk from the House Commerce-State-Judiciary Appropriations bill. You may also want to urge Rep. John Murtha (D-PA), the sponsor of the offending provision, to remove the provision when the Commerce appropriations bill goes to the House floor. His phone is (202) 225-2065, and fax number is (202) 225-5709.
The following is a Congressional Accountability Project press release. For more information, contact gary@essential.org.
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At a time
when legal services for the poor are under attack
in the U. S. House of Representatives, an obscure provision in
the House Commerce- Justice- State- Judiciary Appropriations bill
would enact a new "legal services program" for Members of
Congress. The provision could also deter the Justice Department
from prosecuting Members of Congress.
Under the provision, if the Justice Department loses a case against a Member of Congress, the Member would be reimbursed by the Justice Department "for any legal expenses and other legitimate expenses" incurred "in connection with" the prosecution. The provision was advanced by Rep. John Murtha (D-PA), and approved on July 22 by voice vote in the full House Appropriations Committee. The Commerce appropriations bill is expected to hit the House floor sometime this week. "We shouldn't be creating special new welfare programs for politicians," said Gary Ruskin, Director of the Congressional Accountability Project. "If Members of Congress can't afford to hire a lawyer, they can get a public defender, just like anyone else. Members of Congress already earn $133,600 per year -- they don't need another perk or government handout." The provision states that "Any Member of Congress and any individual who is paid by the Clerk of the House of Representatives or the Secretary of the Senate shall be entitled to receive a reimbursement for any legal expenses and other legitimate expenses incurred by such Member or individual in connection with a Department of Justice prosecution arising from or in connection with the performance of official duties and brought against such Member or individual if such Member or individual is acquitted of the charges brought, the charges are dismissed by a court, or the conviction is reversed on appeal."
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Albion Monitor July 29, 1997 (http://www.monitor.net/monitor)
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