Washington, DC – U.S. Senators Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and
Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today introduced a resolution aimed at ending
the practice of “secret holds” in the United States
Senate. The Grassley-Wyden resolution would require any Senator
who notifies his or her leadership of an intent to object to, or
place a “hold” on, legislation to disclose that objection
in the Congressional Record within two legislative days. The resolution
would assure that the power of an individual Senator to stop legislation
or a nomination would be accompanied by public accountability.
“I want to make government more open.
Lack of transparency in the legislative process fuels cynicism and
distrust. Using holds in a secret manner damages public confidence
in the institution of the U.S. Senate, and it's time to end the
anonymous practice,” Grassley said. “Sen. Wyden and
I have practiced the policy of open holds for several years. Stating
your objection and making it public in the Record makes it possible
for concerns to be addressed and resolved if possible.”
“The hold is an extraordinarily powerful
legislative tool, and if it’s continually going to be used
to stall and strangle legislation, some accountability must be brought
to the procedure and to the American people,” said Wyden.
“I have adhered to a strict policy of publicly announcing
my intention to hold legislation or nominations, and it has not
been a hardship. I’ve found my objections dealt with expeditiously
so the Senate can proceed with its business.”
The Grassley-Wyden resolution is a proposed
change to the Standing Rules of the Senate, which govern Senate
procedure. The resolution now proceeds to the Senate Rules Committee
for consideration.
Grassley and Wyden have fought the “secret
hold” in a bipartisan manner for six years. In 1997 and again
in 1998, the Senate voted unanimously in favor of their amendments
to require that a notice of intent to object be published in the
Congressional Record within 48 hours. When the amendments failed
to survive conferences with the House of Representatives, Wyden
and Grassley appealed to Senate leaders Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) and
Trent Lott (R-Miss.). In response, Daschle and Lott sent a joint
letter to all Senators
setting forth a policy requiring all Senators
placing a hold on any legislation or executive calendar business
to notify the legislation’s sponsor and the committee of jurisdiction.
The new policy also required written notice
to party Leadership and mandated that any hold placed by a Senator’s
staff member must be accompanied by a written notification from
the objecting Senator. However, “secret holds” and staff-initiated
holds eventually came back into practice.
“The secret hold allows too much of this
nation’s business to be done in the dark, and it’s time
to shine light once and for all on this part of the process,”
Wyden said.
"Making Senate holds public will lead
to more open dialogue and constructive debate in the Senate. Our
reform will improve the reputation of the Senate," Grassley
said.
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