grassley. there's been no allegation that he participated in the drafting or the approving or delivering of that letter. there's been no allegation that he participated to my knowledge in any attempt to cover up a known falsity or that he was part of the decision to withdraw the letter ten months later. so, mr. chairman, i am not sure what he is asserting executive privilege over and for that reason i want this contempt resolution to make it very clear to the reader that we were aware of what an in a light most favorable to the president is his assertion of executive privilege, we found it to be legally insufficient and wanting and that we proceeded anyway and with that i will yield back. >> will my colleague yield for a question? >> i would be kdelighted to yied to the gentleman of virginia. >> i thank my colleague and

friend. when this committee subpoenaed docume documents with respect to the then attorney general mr. mccasesy, was not executive privilege in fact, invoked at that time by the bush administration. >> i think executive privilege was asserted when this congress, which i was not a member of, sought to hold miss mier, mr. bolton and others in contempt of congress. >> do you remember how the executive privilege was communicated to this committee? >> i take it by your question it was on the eve of the contempt vote but i don't know. i was a prosecutor back in those days. >> i believe the invocation of executive privilege was conveyed to this committee precisely in the same manner that this one has been, by letter from the department of justice. not by a separate letter or signature of the president. >> the gentleman raises a very good point and my friend, it was

i think when i was 11 or 12 that the defense but others are doing it stopped working in my household. i don't know what took place before i got here. but it also goes to the bigger issue of -- and there have been some thinly veiled accusation on the other side we're attempting to cover or don't want information about the bush administration to come out, i could not have been clearer this morning. i want every piece of information to come out, irrespective of who the attorney general was. if there's anything that should rise above petty partisan politics it should be respectful the rule of law and appreciation for our criminal justice system. i cannot possibly imagine what the former attorney generals had to do with the drafting of the february 4th, 2011 letter. unless also's been an allegation that attorney general gonzalez or mukasey was part of the letter what does that have to do with our vote today? unless they were part of withholding documents from

congress, what does that have to do with what we're doing today? and with that i see my time has run out. >> i thank the gentleman and recognize the gentleman from massachusetts in opposition. >> thank you very much. i know we've talked a lot today about former attorney general michael mukasey and i want to do it once more but in a different context on that. i want to read a quote from mr. mukasey from 2008 when he was writing then about a justification for then president george w. bush to exert executive privilege over the documents pertaining to the agency's proposed ozone regulation. i know others are doing it too is an excuse in your household or mine, but when people write a legal opinion and they're attorneys general people agree or disagree but it's an attorney general opinion and gives somebody not taking an excuse for doing it but at least in some people's mind a legal explanation for why it's done. this is what mr. mukasey wrote. the doctrine of executive

privilege communications that do not implicate presidential decision making. as the supreme court has explained the privilege recognizes and he quotes, the valid need for protection of communications between high government officials and those who advise and assist in the performance of their duties. he stops his quote there. going back to mr. mukasey's comments. based on this principle the justice department under administrations of both political parties has concluded repeatly the privilege may be invoked to protect against congressional subpoenas. the claims seem similar. this administration is appare apparently not saying that it had a privilege necessarily that it's protecting but that those who are -- the high government officials being advised and assist in the performance it is that protection they're seeking. we've heard a number of claims otherwise. back when this was brought to then chairman waxman's

attentioning he disagreed with it as you apparently disagree with it today. he did decide he would delay the contempt vote until he had time to review the assertion and then to see how to proceed on that. i think, you know, where we have a constitutional obligation that's been referenced a number of times today to try to reach out some accommodation between the two branches and because there seems to be quite a bit of uncertainty as to just how this president is invoking it here, although i think now in context of this seems clear he's invoking it for the department itself, but it might make some sense to put this off especially where the attorney general has said that he will produce documents, that he will spend the time to go over it with the committee chair and others to explain the documents and get the information before the committee that needs to be there. i think we have a lot of documents there. we found out from the chairman who was admittedly looking for documents that couldn't be produced all the way down to the narrow set of documents now. >> would the gentleman yield for one second. >> so we've got the very narrow

set of documents, individual saying he'll produce them and come in and explain them or whatever and the executive privilege has been invoked apparently under something that previous administrations have agreed with does not mean he had to have knowledge or he's actually had the statement that's being protected on that but that people in his administration have. appropriate to put this off for a week or so and get to the bottom of this and let the attorney general have a go at satisfying the committee. i'll yield. >> i thank the gentleman. i want to make sure we make two things clear. first of all, there were not things we asked for that were inappropria inappropriate. we never asked for the -- anything that was going to be law enforcement sensitive that would compromise an existing investigation or prosecution. we made it very clear that although it may be covered by a subpoena, we were not looking for those. that's one of the reasons we didn't look for those documents. secondly, the attorney general's offer that if i cease in advance

in order to get -- >> i yield back. >> is not in fact discovery. >> your interpretation of the meeting that other people had quite differently and one that doesn't seem reasonable to me he would make that claim and -- >> then where are the documents? >> having heard of the ranking members account of the meeting at all seems it was quite clear the reputati representation was he would explain things and give you an accounting of what documents he might not be able to prepare and a listing of why there should be an accommodation made to give that opportunity to occur. but, you know, that's just -- i guess a suggestion how we might proceed reasonably on this and less politically but i yield back the balance of my time. >> i thank the gentleman. i recognize the gentle lady from new york. >> thank you, mr. chairman. we've just received a statement from brian terry's family. i think as we debate these amendments and we talk about holding the attorney general in contempt of congress i think

it's very important that we continue to put a face on the life that was lost and i think it's very fitting we hear from his family during -- >> i would ask unanimous consent that the statement be placed in the record. >> without objection so ordered. >> the statement came from the terry family attorney general, he released the following statement. attorney general eric holder's refusal to fully disclose the documents and president obama's assertion of executive privilege, serves to compound this tragedy. it denies the terry family and the american people the truth. our son, border patrol agent brian terry, was killed by members of a mexican drug cartel armed with weapons from this failed justice department gun trafficking investigation. for more than 18 months, we have been asking our federal government for justice and accountability. the documents sought by the house oversight committee and associated with operation fast and furious should be produced

and turned over to the committee. our son lost his life protecting this nation and it is very important that we are now faced with an administration that seems more concerned with protecting themselves rather than revealing the truth beyond operation fast and furious. i yield back my time. >> gentle lady yields back. the question on the amendment offered by the gentleman from south carolina. mr. gowdy. all those in favor say aye. in the opinion of the chair the ayes have it. with that i ask unanimous consent that the previous amendment voted down by voice vote be set aside and that a recorded vote be ordered on the amendment offered from the gentle lady from new york, miss maloney. without objection so ordered. we now return to previously postponed amendments and with

that i call -- i ask to call the roll on the welsh amendment. >> mr. issa. >> no. >> mr. issa votes no. mr. burton. >> mr. mica. mr. plats? [ inaudible ]. >> mr. plats votes no. mr. turner? mr. turner votes no. mr. jordan. mr. jordan votes no. mr. chaffetz. mr. chaffetz votes no. mr. mack votes no. mr. wahlberg. mr. wahlberg votes no. mr. langford votes no. mr. move. miss beshgle? miss beshgle votes no. dr. go czar votes no. mr. labrador votes no. mr. meehan votes no. mr. walsh? >> mr. walsh votes no. mr. gowdey votes no. mr. ross. mr. ross votes no. mr. ginta. mr. kelly. >> no mr. kelly votes no. mr. comings.

>> yes. >> mr. cummings votes aye. mr. towns. miss la loney votes aye. mr. kucinich. mr. teareny. >> aye. mr. clay. mr. lynch? >> aye. >> mr. lynch votes aye. mr. connelly. >> aye. >> mr. quigley votes aye. mr. davis votes aye. >> mr. welsh. >> aye. >> mr. murphy? miss spear. >> miss spaer votes aye. >> mr. kucinich. >> you're not recorded. >> i vote aye. >> mr. kucinich votes aye. you are not, sir. >> mr. burton votes no. >> mr. mckenry. >> votes no. >> mr. mchenry votes no. >> anyone else seek recognition. >> votes aye.

>> mr. murphy votes aye. >> the clerk will report. on that vote, mr. chairman, there are 14 ayes, 23 nos. >> the amendment is not agreed to. we now call the roll on the lynch amendment. mr. i. no. >> mr. mica votes no. mr. plats votes no. mr. turner. mr. turner votes no. mr. mchenry votes no. mr. jordan votes no. mr. chaffetz.

>> no. mr. chaffetz votes no. mr. mack votes no. mr. wahlberg. mr. wahlberg votes no. mr. langford votes no. mr. move votes no. mr. gozar. mr. labrador votes no. mr. meehan. mr. walsh. no. mr. gowdy votes no. mr. ross votes no. mr. ginta votes no. mr. thentholds votes no. mr. kelly votes no. mr. cummings. >> yes. >> mr. cummings votes aye. >> mr. towns. >> mr. towns votes aye. miss la moaneny votes aye. miss norton votes aye. mr. kucinich votes aye. mr. attorneyeny votes aye. mr. clay votes aye. mr. lynch. mr. clay votes aye. mr. lynch votes aye. mr. connelly votes aye. mr. quigley votes aye.

mr. davis votes aye. mr. brayly votes aye. mr. welch votes aye. mr. murphy votes aye. miss spear votes aye. >> the clerk will report. >> on that vote, mr. chairman, 15 ayes, 23 nos. >> the amendment is not agreed to. the question now occurs on the amendment offered by the lady from new york. miss maloney, in which the nos prevailed by voice and recorded vote was ordered. the clerk will call the role. >> mr. issa. >> no. >> mr. burton votes no. mr. my ka votes no. mr. plats votes no.

mr. turner votes no. mr. mchenry votes no. mr. jordan votes no. mr. chaffetz. mr. chaffetz votes no. mr. mack votes no. mr. wahlberg votes no. mr. langford votes no. mr. move votes no. miss beshgle votes no. mr. labrador? mr. labrador votes no. mr. me shan votes no. mr. walsh votes no. mr. gowdy votes no. mr. ross votes no. mr. ginta votes no. mr. ferntholds votes no. mr. kelly votes no. mr. cummings. mr. cummings votes aye. miss maloney votes aye. miss norton. miss norton votes aye. mr. turneny votes aye. mr. claim votes aye.

mr. lynch votes aye. mr. cooper votes aye. mr. done conly votes aye. mr. quigley votes aye. mr. davis votes aye. mr. braillely votes aye. mr. welsh votes aye. mr. murphy. aye. votes aye. miss spaer votes aye. >> the clerk will report. >> that vote mr. chairman, 16 ayes, 23 nos. the amendment is not agreed to. the clerk will are -- we will proceed to the amendment previously passed by voice vote on which a recorded vote was asked for and delayed. the clerk will report or call the roll on the gowdey amendment. mr. issa votes aye. mr. burton votes aye. mr. mica votes aye. mr. plats votes aye.

mr. turner votes aye. mr. mchenry votes aye. mr. jordan votes aye. mr. chaffetz votes aye. mr. mack votes aye. mr. wahlberg votes aye. mr. langford votes aye. mr. move votes aye. mr. labrador votes aye. mr. meehan votes aye. mr. walsh votes aye. mr. gowdy votes aye. mr. ross votes aye. mr. guinta votes aye. mr. kelly votes aye. mr. cummings votes no. mr. towns votes no. miss maloney -- i'm sorry mr. towns votes aye. mrs. maloney votes no. miss norton?

>> it's really a good amendment but the -- we can't get a vote. >> i did. no. >> mr. towns votes no. >> miss norton? >> no. >> you're not. mr. kucinich. mr. kucinich votes no. mr. clay votes no. mr. lynch votes no. mr. cooper votes no. mr. connelly votes no. mr. quigley votes no. mr. davis votes no. mr. braillely votes no. mr. yarmouth -- mr. -- mr. welsh e i'm sorry i keep skipping you mr. welsh votes no. mr. yarmouth votes no. mr. murphy votes no.

miss speer votes no. >> the clerk will report. >> on that vote there are 23 ayes, 17 nos. >> the amendment is agreed to. a quorum being present the question is unfavorably report the contempt report of the house as amended all those in favor signify saying aye those opposed no. the clerk will call the roll. >> mr. issa. >> aye. >> mr. issa votes aye. mr. burton votes aye. mr. my ka votes aye. mr. plats votes aye. mr. turner votes aye. mr. mchenry votes aye. mr. jordan votes aye.

mr. chaffetz votes aye. mr. mack votes aye. mr. wahlberg votes aye. mr. langford votes aye. mr. move votes a yashgs e mr. labrador votes aye. mr. meehan votes aye. mr. walsh votes aye. mr. gowdy votes aye. mr. ross votes aye. mr. guinta votes aye. mr. kelly votes aye. mr. cummings votes no. mr. towns votes no. mrs. maloney votes no. miss norton votes no. mr. kucinich votes no. mr. attorneyeny votes no. mr. clay votes no. mr. lynch votes no. mr. cooper votes no.

mr. connelly votes no. mr. quigley votes no. mr. davis votes no. mr. braillely votes no. mr. welsh votes no. mr. yar must votes no. mr. murphy votes no. miss speer votes no. >> the clerk will report. >> 23 ayes 17 nos. >> the ayes have it and a contempt report is ordered reported to the house. without objection the staff shall be authorized to make necessary and technical corrections and conforming changes to the report. >> mr. chairman i ask nfor days to file. >> the committee stands adjourned.

>> there are 40 members of the house oversight committee and the vote to agree to hold attorney general eric holder in contempt of congress was right along party lines, 23 republicans voting for it, 17 democrats voting against.

the full house would have to adopt the resolution. they write the likeliest path but some republicans would find it deficient to allow the house to file a civil lawsuit to compel attorney general holder to turn over information related to the fast and furious operation. if you missed any of today's hearing on the contempt citation or any of our previous hearings on fast and furious or with attorney general holder, you can find those in our video library at c-span.org. federal reserve is extending its operation twist program which aims to keep long-term interest rates low. fed chair ben bernanke explained the move at his news conference today. he also said economic growth continues at a slow pace and he held back by eu problems and the u.s. housing market from earlier today. this is 45 minutes.

>> good afternoon. before we get to questions, i'll summarize today's policy action by the federal market committee and place the committee's decision in the context of our economic outlook and collective judgment about the appropriate path of monetary policy. as indicated in the statement released earlier this afternoon, the committee is maintaining a highly accommodative policy. we decided to keep the target range for the federal funds rate to 0 or one-fourth percent and anticipate economic conditions are likely to warrant low funds rate through 2014. in addition the committee decided to continue through the end of the year our program of lengthening mat tourty of our securities holdings, rather than completing the program this month as previously scheduled. specifically, the committee intends to purchase treasury securities with remaining maturities of six years to 30 years at the current pace and to sell or redeem an equal amount of treasury securities with the

remaining maturities of approximately three years or less. the details of our planned purchases and sales were described in an accompanying statement released today and can be found on the federal reserve bank of new york's website. the continuation of the maturity extension program should put downward pressure on longer term interest rates and make broader financial conditions more acom daytive than they would otherwise be supporting economic recovery. in conjunction with today's meetings, the seven board members and 12 reserve bank presidents submitted their individual economic projections and policy assessments for the years 2012 to 2014 and over the longer run. these projections are important inputs to the committee's deliberations. incoming information suggests the economy continues to expand at a moderate pace in the face of head winds generated by the situation in europe, still depressed housing market, tight