The American people do not want people thumbing their nose at the law. It undercuts the very fabric of our society and the system of civil justice and of criminal justice as well.

On June 4 1998 the House voted 224-203 with 7 abstentions in favor of it but it failed as a Constitutional amendment needing a 2/3 majority to pass. House of Representatives


1992 election
In the 1992 Republican primary Istook challenged and defeated incumbent Deputy House Minority Whip Mickey Edwards in a three-way primary that also featured former federal prosecutor Bill Price. He was the Republican gubernatorial nominee in 2006 running against incumbent Democratic Gov.

5%. Currently Istook is a DistinguiErnest Istookd Fellow at The Heritage Foundation in Washington D. Ernest James Istook Jr.