Hoyer Discusses House Republicans’ Choice to Abandon Their Promise of Regular Order
Mariel Saez 202-225-3130
WASHINGTON, DC - This afternoon, House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) discussed House Republican leaders' decision to abandon their promise of regular order and close the appropriations process to prevent their Members from having to take tough votes. Below is an excerpt from the colloquy:
“I understand what the gentleman is saying and it appears to me that it is an abandonment of the Speaker's and others' representations that when appropriation bills are brought to the Floor, they'll be brought to the Floor with an open rule or a rule that will allow any and all amendments that seek to be offered by Members on both sides of the aisle to be offered.
“From the gentleman's explanation, I believe that is not the case and a deviation from the announced policy at the beginning of the year. It seems to me, Mr. Leader, Madam Speaker, that it's a pragmatic judgment that some amendments are making it difficult on your side of the aisle.
“[As] someone who's been here for some period of time, that's been my experience, when we were in the majority, that your side under open rules offered a lot of very difficult amendments that we had to confront. The [Rep. Sean Patrick] Maloney amendment obviously was a difficult amendment for you to confront on your side, and led to the defeat of apparently one your bills, the Energy and Water [appropriations] bill, which failed on this Floor.
“But would I not be correct in saying this is a policy that's now being pursued that is different from that which was represented at the beginning of the year where the Floor would be open to any and all amendments and would be considered by the House on their merits? I yield to my friend.”