Congressional Minority Bill of Rights: Then and Now
Then:
Pelosi Seeks House Minority 'Bill of Rights'
Hastert Dismisses Democrats' Complaint, Saying GOP Record Is Better Than Foes'
By Charles Babington
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, June 24, 2004; Page A23
House Democrats' anger at heavy-handed Republican tactics reached a new level yesterday, with the chamber's top Democrat asking the House speaker to embrace a "Bill of Rights" for the minority, regardless which party it is.
In keeping with the general atmosphere of the House these days, aides to Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) said he will not respond to the two-page proposal from Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).
For decades, the party in power has used House parliamentary rules to limit the minority party's ability to amend bills and shape debates. But Democrats -- in the minority for 10 years after four decades of control -- say Republicans have gone to unreasonable lengths in recent years. GOP leaders dispute this, but congressional scholars and even some rank-and-file Republicans agree in whole or in part.
Pelosi's document, which she vows to honor if Democrats regain the majority, says: "Too often, incivility and the heavy hand of the majority" have silenced Democrats and choked off "thoughtful debate." She called on the majority to let the minority offer meaningful amendments and substitutes to important bills; to limit roll-call votes to the normal 15 minutes rather than keeping them open to round up needed votes; and to let all appointees to House-Senate conference committees participate in meetings and decisions.
"When we are shut out, they are shutting out the great diversity of America," Pelosi said in an interview. "We want a return to civility; we want to set a higher standard."
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and Now
01-03-2007
GOP Wants 'Minority Bill of Rights' in House
Responding to Democrats' plans to essentially cut them out of the House lawmaking process for at least the next month, some Republican members of Congress are pushing for a "Minority Bill of Rights" that would ensure their voices are heard.
The move comes after soon-to-be House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced plans to bypass the usual bill-making process -- committee work-ups of legislation and opportunities for the minority party to offer amendments -- in an effort to fast-track an agenda that will include increased federal funding of embryonic stem-cell research and a hike in the U.S. minimum wage.
The decision flies in the face of promises Pelosi made during the campaign to run the most open House in history.
In response, a trio of GOP legislators has drafted a Minority Bill of Rights modeled after a similar document Pelosi created when she was the House's minority leader after the 2004 elections. The document calls for reinstatement of the traditional policymaking apparatus -- meaning no bills come to the floor for a vote without representatives from both parties having had a chance to shape the legislation.
"We are simply asking that the rhetoric of Minority Leader Pelosi matches the actions of Speaker Pelosi, said Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., one of the drafters of the Minority Bill of Rights. The others are Reps. Eric Cantor, R-Va., and Tom Price, R-Ga.
Democrats, though, seemed disinclined to consider the GOP's concerns. A Pelosi spokesman said his boss's most important concern is getting some bills passed in the first 100 hours of the new Congress.
"The priority," he said, "is to get things done."
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Originally Posted by Bubbalicious
ya calling the pres a liar?
