Pelosi and Slaughter Release Report on Republican Rules Abuses

[paineinthearse]

http://democraticleader.house.gov/press/releases.cfm?pressReleaseID=885

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 08, 2005
CONTACT: Brendan Daly/Jennifer Crider
202-226-7616

Pelosi and Slaughter Release Report on Republican Rules Abuses

Washington, D.C. – This morning, House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and Congresswoman Louise Slaughter (D-NY), Ranking Member on the Rules Committee, held a news conference to release a report on the Republican rules abuses in the House of Representatives. To read the full report, please visit http://www.HouseDemocrats.gov/Docs/BrokenPromises.pdf.

Below are Pelosi’s remarks:

“Thank you all for coming this morning. This is about an issue that is fundamental to our democracy: freedom of expression in the House of Representatives. I want to commend the Ranking Member of the Rules Committee, Congresswoman Louise Slaughter of New York, for her excellent leadership and for this report.

“This report provides devastating details of the profound abuse of power that characterizes House Republicans after 10 years in the majority. It demonstrates how House Republicans have completely abandoned not only the standards they set for themselves 10 years ago, but how they have also abandoned any other principle of fairness and accountability. In fact, many non-partisan analysts said that the 108th Congress not only matched the worst abuses of earlier Congresses, it has set a new standard.

“And the report could not have been more timely. While this Republican Administration has spoken strongly about promoting democracy around the world, the House Republican Leadership is working feverishly to undermine democracy here at home.

“Every day that this legislative charade continues, millions of Americans, in every state and congressional district, are denied a voice in Congress.

“Under the current House leadership, floor debate is muzzled, few amendments are permitted, votes are often cast with fear of retribution, and conference committees too often do not meet. Instead, a handful of Republican leaders dictate the party line. They ram bills through committees without full discussion, permit few if any floor amendments, and if need be, hold open floor votes until enough arms have been twisted to ensure passage.

“This is the dismal state of our representative democracy under Republican leadership. This is the sad example we are setting for the world. We must never forget the power of our example. It seems the Republicans have.

“And coupled with radical, partisan changes in the ethics rules designed to lower the ethical standards of the House of Representatives, this is why democracy is threatened in the people's House.

“Last year, I proposed a Minority Bill of Rights that included guidelines for a bipartisan administration of the House and for the regular democratic order for legislation. The principles are fair and provide for the full and open debate that the American people expect and deserve. I had said that if the Democrats won the House of Representatives we would implement those principles of fairness and hoped that the Republican would join us. They did not.

“Following up on that, the Rules Committee report concludes with some recommendations to curtail some of the most egregious abuses and restore some accountability and fairness to the legislative process.

“That is why I am so pleased to commend and introduce the author of this outstanding report, Congresswoman Louise Slaughter, Ranking Democrat on the Rules Committee.”

[JNelson6563]

1. This is great stuff!

Thanks for posting, I hope everyone sees this.

:kick:

[paineinthearse]

2. Another "good news" report by hard working Reps sinks into DU oblivion nt

[JNelson6563]

9. Speculating about 08 more important

ugh

[11 Bravo]

3. This needs a ...

:kick:

[solinvictus]

4. Who cares?

Blah blah blah blah instead of shouting at these SOB's on the House floor. They can write neat little reports until the cows come home, but until they're willing to really fight, it's futiles.

[Gold Metal Flake]

5. The Liberal Media will be shouting about this tomorrow morning, right?

Screaming Liberal Media! Sure they will!

[TankLV]

6. What really riles me is that after citing these examples and after living

under these new standards that the repukes set, they say that should they regain power, they are going to play nice and offer the repukes all the advantages they never had!

We never learn, people!

We should be planning on behaving EXACTLY LIKE THE REPUKES DID until their influence and affect on ANYTHING is marginalized and turned to dust!

We must play by the rules we have been given and return in 100 fold!

The repukes will never change - they will never give up - we need to do the same!

[paineinthearse]

7. Speaker Hastert Responds to Rules Abuse Charges

Speaker Hastert Responds to Rules Abuse Charges

3/8/2005 6:22:00 PM

----------------------------------------------------------------------

To: National Desk

Contact: Ron Bonjean of the Office of House Speaker Dennis Hastert, 202-225-2800

WASHINGTON, March 8 /U.S. Newswire/ -- House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL) today released the following statement in rebuttal to House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi's claims about Republican abuse of the Rules Committee:

"I'm not all that surprised by the Minority Leader's comments today. It's the same old song and dance. Are Republicans abusing the Rules process to stifle debate in the House? To quote Nancy Pelosi, the answer is 'No!'

"House Republicans have worked steadfastly to ensure Democrats are included in the rules process this year. Out of 15 amendments offered in order this year, eleven have been made by members on the other side of the aisle. Furthermore, Democratic motions to recommit have always been accepted. This is quite the opposite from the years Republicans spent under a Democratic majority in which our side of the aisle was completely shut out of the process."

"Since Republicans have taken the majority in Congress we have reformed welfare, provided a prescription drug benefit to Medicare, provided effective tax relief, ended lawsuit abuse and held the line on spending. If the Democrats would take half of their enthusiasm for obstruction and steer it towards working in a bipartisan way to help solve problems, Americans would be better off today because members of both parties would be at the table negotiating a way to strengthen Social Security."

http://www.usnewswire.com/

[TankLV]

8. He musti've forgotton all the times the democrats were LOCKED OUT of

commitee rooms - BECAUSE HE/THEY SAID THEY HAD ALL THE VOTES ALREADY AND DIDN'T NEED/WANT ANY DEMOCRATIC IMPUT.

Or the times they tried to use the police to ARREST THE DEMS.

Or the fact that they are TRYING TO CHANGE THE RULES at this very moment.

Or the fact that they COMPARE DEMOCRATS TO TRAITORS AND TERRORISTS with not condemnation from ANYONE in their party.

Or

I could go on and on...