An interesting resolution came from the House as they officially sent their representatives into conference with the Senate to resolve the differences in the two passed bill versions of the Porkulus Bill:
From yesterday's Congressional Record, Page H1096:
Mr. LEWIS of California moves to instruct the managers on the part of the House that they shall not record their approval of the final conference agreement (as such term is used in clause 12(a)(4) of rule XXII of the Rules of the House of Representatives) unless the text of such agreement has been available to the managers in an electronic, searchable, and downloadable form for at least 48 hours prior to the time described in such clause.
This instruction passed unanimously in a recorded vote. So in theory, talk of votes on Thursday or Friday this week are nonsense, unless the House decides to completely ignore this vote. There is some wiggle room to be had as the instructions specify that the text must be available to managers in the House, not the general public, but that still can't be strictly true at least until final bill text is ready.
It would seem legitimate to expect the House to abide by this vote --- and if it doesn't, to ask why not....
No comments:
Post a Comment