Washington (special) -- Republicans in the House of Representatives
have decided to stick by a decision they made back in the days of former
House Speaker Newt Gingrich to limit to six years the amount of time any
of their members may serve as chairman of a congressional committee.
As agreed by a 141-27 vote in a closed caucus session called Nov. 15
by Speaker Dennis Hastert, such congressmen as Henry Hyde, who headed the
Judiciary Committee's impeachment hearings for President Clinton, and Floyd
Spence, who chaired the House Armed Services Committee, will be turning
in their gavels.
Of particular importance to the Jewish community, Rep. Benjamin Gilman
(R-N.Y.) will have to give up his assignment as the chairman of the House
Committee on International Relations. Gilman has been a strong supporter
of Israel. -- Donald
H. Harrison
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