Bipartisan Pleas for Open Debate Falling on Deaf Ears
Bipartisan Pleas for Open Debate Falling on Deaf Ears
Speaker Nancy Pelosi - “[W]e promised the American people that we would have the most honest and open government and we will.” (Press stakeout, December 6, 2006).
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.
It was just over a month ago that Speaker Pelosi responded “Absolutely. Without question” when asked if she supported putting the final version of the House health care bill online for 72 hours. While the text of H.R. 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act, and a meaningless, technical “manager’s amendment” have been online all week, the Democratic Leadership has brazenly admitted that more changes will be made just before the bill comes to the floor. These changes will be “self executed” by the rule, meaning they will be automatically made a part of the bill as soon as the rule is passed. That means no scrutiny, no debate, and a key promise broken.
The secretive “manger’s amendment” is a stark contrast to the flood of amendments being submitted to the Rules Committee by Democrats and Republicans alike. These members are simply asking for a chance to make their case and have a vote. They are doing so despite the fact that two House Chairs, George Miller and Louise Slaughter, have said no amendments will be allowed. As Rules Chairwoman Slaughter said, “That has pretty much been decided.” The amendments range from conservative to liberal causes, from simple to complex. Gauging from the number submitted, more than 150 at last count, there is a hunger for real debate on this critical issue. Yet the Democratic Leadership has forbidden it.
House Rules Committee Ranking Republican said that the American people want and deserve a better process on such a critical issue. “Perhaps the last-minute, back-door manager’s amendment wouldn’t be necessary if the Democratic Leadership would simply allow debate on some of the 150 plus amendments submitted by Democrats and Republicans alike. Although they may think they have a monopoly on the best approach to solving our nation’s health care problems, they do not. They should scrap this flawed approach and open up this debate to a wide range of ideas and proposals. The American people are watching and want their voices heard.”
Committee on Rules Republicans
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