LINCOLN, NE-House Majority Whip Roy Blunt (Mo.) today issued the following reaction to House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert’s statement regarding the House Page system: “The Speaker has led the House and has helped lead the country wisely and well. He is an effective leader of unquestioned integrity, and his statement today is proof of his commitment to protecting those who serve in the House Page Program. “Mark Foley’s actions were despicable, and he deceived us all. I know that if the Speaker had known what we know now about Foley’s disgusting activities, he would have personally moved to have Foley expelled from the House of Representatives. “We all now realize that this terrible situation could have been handled differently. We are all upset; we are all horrified; but we all stand together with our Speaker. “Those who are trying to create the appearance of disunity between myself and the Speaker should know: There is not, and has not been, any daylight between the Speaker and me.” # # #