House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said the House will not take up a resolution honoring the Michael Jackson because doing so would open up the floor to a potential barrage of criticism about the late pop star and the controversies that plagued his life.
Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas., announced at the Jackson memorial service that she was drafting a resolution that would recognize his humanitarian efforts.
Instead, Pelosi said, those who want to praise Jackson can do so during designated times for floor speeches that usually occur at the beginning and end of the legislative day.
“A resolution, I think, would open up to contrary views that are not necessary at this time to be expressed in association with a resolution whose purpose is quite different,” Pelosi said.
