"A New Tone"
By Pejman Yousefzadeh Posted in Congress — Comments (0) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
Yeah, so much for that:
Despite Democratic promises that the House Rules Committee would operate much differently in the new majority, it is as partisan as ever.
Furious with how the powerful panel has been directed this year, all four Republican members of the Rules Committee took to the floor Tuesday night to air their grievances publicly.
During his speech, ranking member David Dreier (R-Calif.) lambasted Chairwoman Louise Slaughter (D-N.Y.) and Democratic leadership for failing to deliver on promises of an open, bipartisan legislative environment.
"I have to say that when we look at this record over the past nine months, it is, to me, a very, very sad commentary that every single American has had their rights undermined on dealing with substantive public policy issues," Dreier said, noting that a new website launched by the minority members would help document perceived abuses of power and procedure.
While it can be argued that Tuesday's floor speeches were just the latest in a series of public spats between the majority and the minority on the Rules Committee -- where bickering has been a constant for decades -- some members say that the atmosphere is sinking to new lows.
Rep. James McGovern (D-Mass.), a committee member, laid the blame on both sides of the aisle.
"Look, I think it's fair to say that we could be a better majority, but they could also be a better minority," McGovern said. "Republicans have tried to use the amendment process as a filibuster. If that is their tactic then we have no other choice than to structure the rules."
Longtime members, such as former ethics committee Chairman Doc Hastings (R-Wash.), expressed concern that the conduct of members in the Rules Committee could begin to make a large impact on the House as a whole through the denial of minority input and the rejection of amendments offered by the minority.
Panel member Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.) on Tuesday night cited a recent example: Rep. Todd Akin (R-Mo.) was not permitted to enter the committee room when he was late to file his second-degree amendment, which is an amendment to an amendment.
Caught in the crossfire are the panel's four freshmen, several of whom went directly from contentious races to the House's pressure cooker.
"It's not really my style," said freshman Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.). "I just find some of the internal arguing a mystery to me."
I think this has held up pretty well.