House

Share This Page Slashdot Del.icio.us Google Digg Reddit Newsvine Furl Yahoo Facebook

Washington, Sep 24, 2009 - Iowa Congressman Tom Latham is spearheading an effort to make sure citizens have the time they need to analyze legislative proposals before Congress can vote on them.

Congressman Latham has signed on as a co-sponsor of a bipartisan resolution that would stop lawmakers from rushing votes on critical measures without allowing citizens adequate time to read the proposals and register their feedback with their representatives in Congress.  

The legislation, H. Res. 554, would require any legislation to be made available to the public 72 hours before Congress can begin debate.  It also requires that a document be made available to the public outlining the impact proposed legislation would have on existing law 72 hours ahead of any debate.  The resolution applies to all significant amendments to legislation in addition to original bills.

“In my eyes, it’s simply common sense to give the American people the time they need to analyze proposed legislation,” Congressman Latham said.  “Unfortunately, it’s become a common practice for lawmakers in the House of Representatives to offer sweeping legislative measures just hours before we’re expected to vote on them.  Sometimes, these proposals are introduced in the dead of night.  This is undemocratic, and it needs to stop.”

For example, lawmakers added a 300-page manager’s amendment to the cap-and-trade energy bill at about 3 a.m. on June 26, the day the House voted on final passage of the bill.  Citizens had only a few hours to look at the proposal before it was approved by the House of Representatives.

Congressman Latham also is co-sponsoring H. Res. 721, which calls for any major health care reform legislation to be available to the public for 30 calendar days before a vote in the House of Representatives.

“Shadowy legislative practices shut the people out of the process and force representatives in Congress to vote on important proposals without knowing what’s in them,” Congressman Latham said.  “It’s time to bring transparency back to Congress.”