Marshall Sutherland

Wed, 11 Jan 2023 13:06:13 -0500 last edited: Thu, 12 Jan 2023 07:59:21 -0500

dwatney@hub.farthinghalearms.com

While it looked like a circus clown act, some good things came out of the recent Speaker battle.

#^The goodness of the Speaker McCarthy battle

Today, I am pleased to report that those fringe Republicans snagged new rules.

Bills are to be released 72 hours before a floor vote. That’s not quite our Read the Bills Act, but the inspiration is clearly there!

In addition, bills will be limited to a single subject and votes will be required every single time the House wants to waive the germaneness provision. That’s not quite our One Subject at a Time Act, but the inspiration is obvious.

Presenting massive omnibus bills less than 24 hours before they are voted on is a travesty of lawmaking.

#politics #podcast

politics podcast

Thu, 12 Jan 2023 08:07:20 -0500

Marshall Sutherland

dwatney@hub.farthinghalearms.com

Some bits from the attached podcast (with my own commentary mixed in):

Apparently, the major media would have you believe that requiring that there be time for representatives to actually read the bills (let's pretend that 72 hours is enough time for a 4000 bill) before they vote on them is obstructionist. Who needs to read them when the party leadership is there to tell you how to vote?

The last time the budget process followed the full appropriations procedure was 1996. It has devolved to the point now where a 4000 page bill is dropped on members less than 24 hours before a vote. Accept it or be accused of shutting down the government!

It is a good listen.