That is what Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) said she was bringing to the House over two years ago. Democrats were going to be more ethical, more open, and something about working with republicans. You remember, it was back when Rep. William (Dollar Bill) Jefferson (D-LA) was found with $90,000 in marked bribe money in the freezer of his Washington residence. Jefferson, btw, is still in Pelosi’s House.
Last week, unnoticed ? by the mainstream media, Speaker Pelosi made a rule change that effectively prohibits the minority, Republicans, from offering amendments or input to new legislation.
One change puts new restrictions on motions to “recommit” a bill to the committee that approved it in order to add new amendments.
The new rule allows the full House to reconsider a bill without delay, depriving the minority party of an opportunity to add its input on the proposed legislation.
This must be what she meant when she said that her House would be more open, ethical, and will be working with Republicans. It is good that Sen. Trent Lott (R-MS) is still around to see how his foolish, ‘friendly gesture’ of ‘power sharing’ has affected Speaker Pelosi. Have we learned anything here? Some republicans learn quicker than others.
Rep. Jeff Miller (R-FL) had this to say about it . . .
Included in last week’s accomplishments was the passage of the new Democratic Rules Package, which extended the time Democrats can chair committees, reduced the rights of Republicans to represent their constituents and took the House of Representatives one step closer to being the most authoritarian and dictatorial Congress since the early part of the 20th century.
Former Minority Whip Roy Blunt (R-MO), recalling PEBO’s campaign rhetoric and comparing that to what Speaker Pelosi has done. Blunt said the changes are an “absolute contradiction to everything Barack Obama said” about nonpartisan politics during the campaign.
This move by Pelosi has got to be the most unreported action by the House of Representatives. Given the political consequences of the rule change, one would think that that would be newsworthy. Well, then you get into ethics and getting-along stuff so hell, what story? There’s no story there.
related links: Pelosi’s Power Grab: Her Plan to Shackle the GOP | House faces early partisan fight over rules
