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11/6/2009 - Process Foul Bipartisan Pleas for Open Debate Falling on Deaf Ears As House Democrats struggle to get their government takeover of our health care system over the finish line, they are relying on a “manager’s amendment” to get them there.  Just as they did during the cap and trade debate in June, the “manager’s amendment” is being used to make just enough backroom deals and twist just enough arms to get the votes necessary to eke out a victory.  Contrary to previous, repeated promises from the Democratic Leadership this new amendment will not be made available to members and the public for 72 hours.  Meanwhile, Democrats and Republicans alike are set to ask the Rules Committee today to let them have a role in the health care debate, even though the Speaker of the House and Chairwoman of the Rules Committee have said publicly there is no chance they will be given that opportunity.  Is this the transparency that was promised the American people?  Of course not.  But it didn’t have to be this way.  In fact, the Democratic Majority said it wouldn’t be.    more...

9/24/2009 - Process Foul On Spending, Democratic Majority Looking Out for Number One The end of the fiscal year is less than a week away and the Democratic Majority has not yet completed work on a single appropriations bill.  This is in spite of their historic clampdown on debate on spending bills, preventing Democrats and Republicans from offering amendments to spending bills.  So which bill do they decide to move first?  The one funding their own offices.  And what do they piggy back on it?  The continuing resolution funding the entire government beyond the end of the fiscal year, which is necessary because of their own inability to complete their work.  In one fell swoop, the Democratic Majority is padding their own office budgets, covering up their lack of action on pressing national priorities, and further kicking the spending can down the road.   more...

7/22/2009 - Process Foul Democratic Rules Committee Avoids Transparency — Again! Tonight the Rules Committee actively turned back another transparency initiative offered by the Republican Members to ensure that the public knows what’s in so-called “manager’s amendments.”   more...

7/8/2009 - Process Foul Open Process in the House Relegated to a Historic Footnote Today the House hit a new low for representative democracy, depriving both Democrats and Republicans of the ability to change spending bills, and perhaps reduce the runaway spending that has come to characterize the 111th Congress.   more...

6/17/2009 - Process Foul Democratic Majority Says “Sit Down” to Anyone Questioning Budget-Busting Spending It started out badly enough — the Rules Committee beginning the appropriations season with their new precedent for limiting debate on spending bills, a pre-printing requirement. It ended even worse, with the Democratic Majority decided that they, and they alone, have a monopoly on how best to spend the American people’s money. The most closed Congress in history has sunk to a new, historic low.   more...