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5132 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS March 29, 2001 room clerk for this newspaper, a shop stew- and union shop steward ‘‘a citizen/legislator: and others have been subjected to violence, ard and a teacher before getting a job that an educator who came to Capitol Hill and tyranny, and massive human-rights violations put him in charge of more vast stewardships. gave Congress a civics lesson.’’ for many years. Christian churches have been Those include oversight of all America’s pub- But Vento’s greatest legislative achieve- lic lands and helping to rescue the financial ments have been those he made as chairman burned. Priests have been killed, nuns have system from the ruin of the savings and loan and later ranking member of the Resources been raped, and many other atrocities have debacles. Committee’s Parks and Public Lands Sub- been committed with impunity. Muslims have Vento’s career in Congress, and before that committee. ‘‘I cannot think of another per- been killed in massive numbers and the ruling in the Minnesota Legislature, represent an son who has done more to protect America’s party has destroyed mosques. The Indian gov- old-fashioned sense of public service in a national parks,’’ said the Sierra Club’s exec- ernment has killed Sikhs. Religious pilgrims new-fashioned and too-slick political era. He utive director, Carl Pope. ‘‘Protecting our have been attacked with lathis and tear gas. knew what private-public partnerships were nation’s natural heritage is a passionate love This is just a recent sample of the atrocities before the concept became a sound bite for for him.’’ the ambitious. And he has never been afraid Vento’s hometown newspaper, the St. Paul against minorities in India. of a fight when the issue and the people mat- Pioneer Press-Dispatch—where he once Mr. Speaker, India is a significant recipient ter deeply. worked as a mailroom clerk—called him ‘‘an of American aid. Why should the taxpayers of The Reagan and Bush administrations Old Democrat in a New Democrat era’’ who this country pay taxes to support the corrup- were the source of frustration for the man exemplified ‘‘an old-fashioned sense of public tion and tyranny of the Indian Government? from the Fourth. When the Democrats were service in a new-fashioned and too-slick po- There is, however, something that America, as thrown into the congressional minority in litical era.’’ the world’s only superpower, can do about it. 1994, Vento found new rules but always kept Noting that Vento will not be part of the Democrats’ fight to regain the House, the America can stop sending aid to India and his eye on the prize of Democrats retaking support self-determination for the people of the reins. He noted with each election how newspaper added a poetic tribute: ‘‘Larger much the Republican majority had nar- things have taken over. But his mark will Khalistan, Kashmir, and Nagalim. Let us take rowed. This year, Vento will not be in the stand fast. An afternoon with only the these steps to free the people of the subconti- equation for a Democratic House. Larger sounds of the paddle dipping, the wind waft- nent from corruption and brutality. things have taken over. But his mark will ing, and the birds singing in the Boundary Mr. Speaker, I insert into the RECORD an ar- stand fast. Waters Canoe Area is the melody Bruce ticle from the current issue of The Economist An afternoon with only the sounds of the Vento makes in the woods of public policy. about the latest Indian Government bribery paddle dipping, the wind wafting and the . Godspeed, Congressman Vento.’’ scandal. I commend it to all my congressional birds singing in the Boundary Waters Canoe f colleagues who care about spending our for- Area is the melody Bruce Vento makes in eign aid dollars wisely. the woods of a public policy. So is the ani- CORRUPTION SCANDAL ENGULFS mated, personal Vento chatting with all INDIAN GOVERNMENT [From The Economist, Mar. 24, 2001] comers at the Labor Day picnic. INDIA’S CORRUPTION BLUES Godspeed, Congressman Vento. HON. DAN BURTON THOUGH IT MAY WELL SURVIVE THE LATEST CORRUPTION SCANDAL, THE AUTHORITY OF OF INDIANA THE LEADING PARTY IN THE GOVERNMENT IS [From the Hill, Feb. 8, 2000] IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES BADLY DENTED GODSPEED, CONGRESSMAN VENTO Thursday, March 29, 2001 Fatalism is ever present in India, and the The premature departure from Congress of Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, the government in Delhi seems to be hoping that Rep. Bruce Vento (D-Minn.) because he has a popular belief in the inevitability of cor- been diagnosed with lung cancer will deprive world has been shocked by the recent news stories about a corruption scandal that has en- ruption will help it survive the biggest scan- the House of Representatives of one of its dal of recent times. That hope seems well most dedicated, effective and popular mem- gulfed the Indian government. Already, the founded. But whether the government will bers. president of the ruling BJP and the Defense regain the authority it needs to pursue its Vento, who is retiring in December after 24 Minister have been forced to resign after they two main initiatives—economic reform and years in Congress, stunned and saddended his were caught taking bribes from two internet peace in Kashmir—is much more doubtful. colleagues and his St. Paul district when he news reporters posing as arms dealers in re- The uproar over the release of videotapes disclosed last week that he has a type of can- last week showing top politicians and offi- cer caused by exposure to asbestos. His doc- gard to a fake defense contract. The opposi- tion is calling for the government to resign. cials taking bribes from two Internet news tors at Minnesota’s famed Mayo Clinic have reporters posing as arms dealers has reached recommended an aggressive course of treat- The resignation of Defense Minister George a noisy impasse. The defence minister, ment that will make it impossible for him to Fernandes is no loss for friends of democracy. George Fernandes, has resigned, though he run for a 13th term. Mr. Fernandes is the man who led a meeting remains ‘‘covener’’ of the 18-party ruling Na- The 59-year-old St. Paul lawmaker’s an- in 1999 with the Ambassadors from China, tional Democratic Alliance. The NDA has nouncement that he will end a 30-year public Cuba, Russia, Libya, Serbia, and Iraq aimed lost one member, the Trinamul Congress service career, which began when he was at putting together a security alliance ‘‘to stop party of West Bengal, but remains sure elected to the Minnesota Legislature in 1971, the U.S.’’ This meeting was reported in the enough of its majority to dare the opposition triggered an outpouring of tributes and pray- to bring a no-confidence vote in Parliament. erful concern from lawmakers on both sides May 18, 1999 issue of the Indian Express. Those of us who have been following Indian The opposition, equally sure of its minority, of the aisle. President Clinton and Vice has declined. Instead, it has blocked par- President Gore, who came to Congress the and South Asian issues are not surprised. The liamentary proceedings for a week, relenting same year as Vento, also issued statements Indian Government has demonstrated many long enough only to allow money to be voted of praise and concern. times before how deeply it is infected with cor- for the state to continue functioning. None was more poignant than that from ruption. In India, people have come up with a Both sides have converted an occasion for his fellow Minnesota Democrat, Jim Ober- new word for bribery. They call it ‘‘fee for serv- shame into one for self-righteousness. Sonia star, who noted, ‘‘I lost my wife, Jo, to ice.’’ It has become necessary to pay a fee to Gandhi, leader of a suddenly alert Congress breast cancer, so Bruce’s disclosure that he get government workers of any kind to deliver party, vowed at its plenary meeting in Ban- too is fighting cancer hits close to home. galore to ‘‘wage every war’’ to ‘‘ensure that Bruce has spent the past 24 years in Congress the services that they are mandated to pro- this country is liberated from the shackles of fighting for working people, and now he is in vide. In November 1994, the newspaper this corrupt, shameful and communal gov- a fight for his life.’’ Hitavada reported that the Indian government ernment’’. But she herself was wounded when Even though they often clashed over the paid Surendra Nath, the late governor of Pun- her own personal assistant came under inves- issue of federal control of northern Min- jab, $1.5 billion to generate terrorist activity in tigation in a separate scandal. The prime nesota’s pristine Boundary Waters Canoe Punjab, Khalistan, and in Kashmir as well. minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, has blended Area Wilderness, Oberstar called Vento ‘‘a This is in a country where half the population penitence with defensiveness. He has prom- dear friend of mine’’ and ‘‘an exceptional lives below the international poverty line. ised a judicial probe into the allegations, and public servant.’’ a clean-up. But, in a television address on Rep. Jim Leach (R–Iowa), chairman of the Forty-two percent of the people live on less March 16th, Mr. Vajpayee reserved the word Banking and Financial Services Committee than a dollar a day and another forty-two per- ‘‘criminal’’ to describe the hurling of allega- on which Vento serves, praised him for his cent live on less than $2 per day.

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