Pelosi Seeks House Minority 'Bill of Rights' (Hastert Dismisses Complaint)

[Khephra]

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."

more...................

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A680-2004Jun23.html

[truthisfreedom]

1. excellent. force them to show their character, again and again.

that's the only way to expose these bastards for what they are.

[mazzarro]

2. I hope that Pelosi keep pushing this!

And even make a campaign issue out of it!

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

3. History has shown us

that when the Dems are in a majority in Congress, things are civilized. When the GOPs are in power, we have heavy-handed tactics and corruption. Happened before, after the Civil War, when the GOP took over. I prefer Dem majorities in Congress, and will work to get them!

[jamesinca]

4. Paul Wellstone even said this

He said that the Senate lost that when the republicans took the majority. He mentions this in his book "The conscience of a Liberal"

[Cheswick2.0]

5. Good and I agree that this should be a campaign issue

The trick is to put it into an effective sound bite.

[dusty64]

6. Forget it, when

Democrats regain the majority (hopefully this year), the rethugs should be treated EXACTLY the way they have treated them for the last ten years.

[struggle4progress]

7. I'm falling in love with Nancy! eom

[JayS]

8. It always riles my Senator when I tell him that all I needed to...

...learn about how Washington works I learned from watching Kindergartners playing at recess. Lot of truth in that though. :)

For the good of the country, something of this sort is needed. Maybe by respecting their own Bill Of Rights they will remember to respect ours.