 |
Monday, November 29, 2004
Bill would strengthen 3-day wait rule on legislative votes
WASHINGTON -- Rep. Brian Baird calls it a matter of common sense: Members of Congress should have time to read major legislation before casting their votes.
His idea is neither new nor revolutionary, said Baird, a Washington state Democrat.
But he acknowledges a bill he is sponsoring to more strictly enforce a three-day waiting period on major legislation is unlikely to pass. The measure would limit the flexibility of congressional leaders and call attention to what Baird calls a little-known fact of life on Capitol Hill: Most lawmakers don't read most bills before voting on them.
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., outraged by a mistake in a recent spending bill, said she wants Republicans to heed the often-ignored rule, which forbids the House to vote on bills until at least three days after committees approve them.
Republicans note that Democrats did the same thing when they were in the majority.
"For her to make that demand on its face is pretty ridiculous" and "blatantly political," said John Feehery, spokesman for House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill.
Under current procedures, a simple majority of the House can approve a request from the Rules Committee to waive the three-day wait. Baird thinks it should take a two-thirds majority.
According to Baird's office, the House voted at least 44 times over the past two years to skip the waiting period for legislation, including the mammoth, 600-page bill to overhaul Medicare last year.
 Day in Pictures China's Yangma Festival and more |
 David Horsey It's a wonderful life ... 2008 |
 The week's best photos Great shots from the P-I staff |
· Bush in talks to bring troops home
· Obama unlikely to see struggles of Iraqi families
· Campaign Countdown: 110 Days To Go
· McCain brings economic plan to autoworkers
· Jo Stafford, 1917-2008: Singer a dream girl for WWII soldiers
more
101 Elliott Ave. W.
Seattle, WA 98119
(206) 448-8000
Home Delivery: (206) 464-2121 or (800) 542-0820
seattlepi.com serves about 1.7 million unique visitors
and 30 million page views each month.
Send comments to newmedia@seattlepi.com
Send investigative tips to iteam@seattlepi.com
©1996-2008 Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Terms of Use/Privacy Policy
