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MelissaSchober Brandie asked if I think Congress is taking on too much too fast. Specifically she mentioned cap and trade (a climate change bill) being 1300 pages and then a vote the next day.Well, the 24-hour vote thing is really a myth. Yes, the FINAL version of bill didn't come out until a few hours before but that bill had been worked over. There are LOTS of bills that come to the floor with only a few days or hours notice and many are hundreds of pages. But for the most part, the majority and minority help their members (except when they don't want too and start waiving their arms and crying uncle to divert attention) with talking points and summaries. The Cong Research Service provides summaries. Committees have hearings and markups and summaries. It is almost never a fast process. I'll dig up a post I did over at MOMocrats to illustrate this point better. Do things get missed? Sure. To paraphrase Pat Schroeder (a fav fmr rep of mine) "No one wheels a truck behind them with the code of federal regulations in the back." So stuff gets tacked on (called non germane amds) but some of that can be limited by the rule that governs debate on the floor . Brief civics lesson: When legislation comes to the floor, it is either governed by a rule (from the House Rules committee, which sets the time for debate, decides what amendments are in order, etc.) or not. If it not under a rule, it on the suspension calendar and is usually something that is noncontroversial like a proclamation recogizing National Child Abuse Prevention Week.
over 2 years ago - Comment
Brandie Well, I mean I know they are seeing the bill the whole time it's being worked on, but even you said it's hard to keep up on the healthcare with all the changes that are coming. And come on, they did it with Tarp, they all said they didn't know it was there - and maybe they did, and maybe they didn't (salary/bonus issues come to mind). So clearly this is something I think should be on our mind and maybe if the timing isn't the issue, we need to demand more of our congressmen so that they can't throw that as an excuse.
over 2 years ago
MelissaSchober Usually, they know. And if they don't know, they need new staff. Seriously.
Most Americans only here that poor Rep or Sen X only had three hours to keep up a 1300 page bill. Not that many know about floor rules and hearings.
See this post for answers to a similar issue: http://momocrats.typepad.com/momocrats/2009/01/lions-and-tiger-and-health-insurance-for-kids-oh-my.html?cid=6a00e54ee37895883301156f836ca3970c
over 2 years ago
Brandie But again, they are giving us that excuse. Most Americans don't know how these things work. We can only go by what they tell us. Personally when I hear someone in congress say they didn't know something was in the bill, it infuriates me beyond belief and I automatically think, to voting for you again. I mean, isn't part of the job to know what you are voting for?!?! And yet, we heard it from quite a few congress people when it came to the Tarp bills. Ugh. And I have a feeling we'll hear it again with some things, because they are setting themselves up to use it as an excuse again.
over 2 years ago
MelissaSchober Brandie,
The way that folks learn about what I've outlined above is to tell each other. Tell your friends and family. Tell your local papers. Small local weeklies are sometimes starved for free content so ask if you can write a short piece, op-ed, etc. Try your PTA, mom's group, women's church group, chavurah, etc. etc.
The next time ANYONE in Congress whines that they didn't have a chance to read the bill, look it up on Thomas (http://thomas.loc.gov). See if there were hearings or a markup. Ask why the rep or senator didn't attend the hearing (if they are member of that committee) or why they didn't call a colleague for a summary. Ask what the heck their staff was doing. Reps/Sens have legislative assistants who are assigned to handle a variety of issues; someone in their office should be keeping them abreast of developments on big bills (smaller stuff? not always, but things with big money attached like TARP are a definite yes).
over 2 years ago