2 RESOLUTION Directing the Committee on Agriculture, the Committee on Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs, the Committee on Government Operations, the Committee on the Judiciary, and the Committee on Small Business to commence hearings on issues within their jurisdiction relating to the Whitewater Development Corporation and related issues. Whereas allegations have been reported in public concerning the possibility of unethical or illegal conduct in connection with Madison Guaranty Savings and Loan Association (MGS&L), Whitewater Development Corporation, Capital Management Services Inc. (CMS), Ray. E. Friedman & Company (REFCO), and Lasater and Company; and Whereas Congress has a constitutional obligation to conduct oversight of matters relating to the operations of the Government, including matters related to any governmental investigations which may, from time to time, be undertaken: Now, therefore, be it 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Resolved, That (1) the Committee on Agriculture, the Committee on Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs, the Committee on Government Operations, the Commit tee on the Judiciary, and the Committee on Small Business are instructed to commence hearings on is sues within their jurisdiction relating to Madison Guaranty Savings and Loan Association, Whitewater Development Corporation, Capital Management 3 Services Inc., Ray. E. Friedman & Company (REFCO), and Lasater and Company, and such re lated issues as may be appropriate not later than August 15, 1994, and to submit written findings concerning such matter to the House not later than the sine die adjournment of this Congress; (2) the respective committees shall work, insofar as it is feasible consistent with the requirements of this resolution, to accommodate the work of Special Counsel Robert B. Fiske, Jr., and shall not grant immunity under sections 6002 and 6003 of title 18, United States Code, over the objection of Special Counsel Robert Fiske to any witness called to testify at these hearings; and (3) the Speaker and the majority and minority leaders are instructed to meet to determine the appropriate timetable, procedures, and other relevant issues relating to congressional oversight. •HRES 437 I The Washington Times Parties see July start of hearings By Jerry Seper THE WASHINGTON TIMES Democratic and Republican leaders in the House, after meeting with special counsel Robert B. Fiske Jr.. agreed that congressional hearings on the WhitewaterMadison affair could begin by the end of July. Mr. Fiske, who has opposed any hearings that would interfere with his investigation, said after the meeting that he expects the first phase of his probe to be complete by the "middle to the end of June." It will be the congressional leadership's decision at that point on "whether to have hearings," he added. House Speaker Thomas S. Foley in a statement said that, because of staff preparations, hearings could not begin before the end of July and then only if Mr. Fiske finished the first phase by the end of next month. "I have no problem with waiting and having hearings in July, August and September. If we have done all the preparation for the hearings, then we can act fairly quickly once Fiske says it's OK," see PROBE, page A19 WASHINGTON, D.C., FRIDAY, MAY 27, 1994 ** PROBE From page Al said House Minority Whip Newt Gingrich of Georgia. But Rep. John T. Doolittle, whose resolution this week to force Whitewater-Madison hearings was endorsed by 92 GOP colleagues, balked at the agreement. "This is completely and totally unacceptable," the California Republican said. "There is no reason why these hearings can't get under way immediately, and certainly no rationale why discussions about them have to wait until after the Memorial Day recess." Mr. Doolittle's comments were in response to statements by Mr. Fiske; Mr. Foley, Washington Democrat; and House Minority Leader Robert H. Michel, Illinois Republican. "We have made accommodations in my resolution to prevent any interference in the Fiske inquiry, and for the American people to have to wait further for answers to some very serious questions is simply not appropriate," Mr. Doolittle said. "The majority party has dragged its feet and stonewalled on every occasion." After the meeting on Capitol Hill with the House leadership, Mr. Fiske suggested that limited congressional hearings into the first phase of his probe, which includes the death of Deputy White House Counsel Vincent W. Foster Jr. and improper contacts between the Clinton administration and government regulators, could begin by the end of July. The Republican leadership agreed. Mr. Michel's spokeswoman, Missi Tessier, said he found no problem with Mr. Fiske's announced timetable and planned to meet with Mr. Foley after the Memorial Day recess to discuss a hearings schedule. Mr. Doolittle did not mention his Republican colleagues by name but said there is no reason why delays are necessary and no precedent for Mr. Fiske to dictate a hearings schedule. "We don't want these hearings to be delayed or limited, and there is no reason why that has to be done," he said. "I'm not looking forward to having the hearings put off to August or later and end up with two days because of other press-. ing business. "Because of its oversight responsibility, the House does not have to honor any request by Mr. Fiske to hold off on the hearings." Many Republicans in the House and Senate have been angry the past several months over delays by Democrats in scheduling hearings. Both houses passed resolutions in March calling for Whitewater-Madison hearings. On Wednesday, Sen. Alfonse M. D'Amato, New York Republican, offered a resolution to create a 16member special subcommittee to look into the Whitewater-Madison affair and threatened to attach the measure to "every single bill that comes forward until we have these hearings." The resolution calls for the appointment of eight Democrats and eight Republicans to a Senate Banking subcommittee to look into Whitewater-Madison allegations. Senate Democrats, including Majority Leader George Mitchell of Maine, described the effort as "raw partisan politics." The first phase of the Fiske inquiry involves a look into the July 20 death of Mr. Foster, whose body was found in a park in Fairfax County; the White House handling of the death, which was ruled a suicide by the U.S. Park Police; and meetings between Clinton administration officials and government regulators looking into a failed Arkansas thrift owned by a longtime Clinton friend and business partner. Fiske investigators working out of Washington, including homicide expert Roderick C. Lankler, a former assistant district attorney in New York, are conducting the first phase. Investigators working out of Little Rock are looking into financial problems involving Madison Guaranty Savings and Loan Association and Whitewater Development Corp. The Arkansas phase of the Fiske inquiry is not expected to be completed for several months. A4 FRIDAY, MAY 27, 1994 ... THE WASHINGTON POST Phase 1 of Whitewater Probe Near End Timetable May Clear Way for Summer Congressional Hearings By Kenneth J. Cooper Special counsel Robert B. Fiske Those hearings would be confined Fiske said his inquiry into those House Speaker Thomas S. Foley A spokesman for Senate Majority Leader George J. Mitchell (D Maine) said Mitchell anticipates that Mitchell was briefed by Foley on Fiske asked congressional leaders In his meeting yesterday with Fo- incomplete and will not be done any- Foley quoted Fiske as expressing A note of impatience with the In the House and Senate, the Foley said "it might be better to Gingrich named four committees ROBERT B. FISKE JR. that could claim jurisdiction over In the Senate, Republicans served Republican sources said GOP sen- near. |