Rep. Lynn Jenkins, R-Kan., introduced a resolution to change House rules and require committees to post the actual text of adopted bills and amendments online within 24 hours. She argued in a press release that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's pledge for an open and transparent Congress has fallen short and lawmakers have failed to require transparency for one of the most powerful components of Congress -- congressional committees. "The federal government functions best when it governs in the light of day," she said.
Over the past nine months, major bills have repeatedly been drafted, filed and then changed in the dark of night or behind closed-doors, Jenkins added. The freshman lawmaker argued that it happened with the economic stimulus package, the House Energy and Commerce energy bill, and the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee's healthcare overhaul legislation. "This is only my first year in Washington, but if this is 'business as usual,' then it's time for business to change," she said.
House Minority Leader John Boehner praised Jenkins saying that "the practice of secretly adding 'phantom amendments' to major bills after they pass committee is outrageous, and it should be banned." He argued that Senate HELP Democrats quietly made more than 70 changes to the healthcare bill after it was voted on in committee. Reps. Greg Walden, R-Ore., and John Culberson, R-Texas, have petitioned to change House rules to require all bills be posted online for at least 72 hours before being brought to a vote.
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Responded on November 17, 2009 9:17 AM
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Responded on October 21, 2009 3:19 PM
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Responded on October 17, 2009 7:00 PM
John Lloyd Scharf
What I want is for them to have the bill online for a day for every page or every billion dollars spent so that they could not pass a 1000 page bill in two years.
However, it would be reasonable an prudent to have them online for 24 hours plus one hour for every page of a bill. If the bill is 1000 pages and spends a trillion dollars, I want it online for a 1000 hours. I think 42 days is not only reasonable, but definitely required for the public to read and make input.