Boehner Praises Rep. Jenkins’ Legislation to Ban “Phantom Amendments”

[The Straight Story]

Resolution Will Allow Americans to Read Bills Online Within 24 Hours
After Committee Votes

WASHINGTON, D.C. – House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) today praised Rep. Lynn Jenkins (R-KS) for introducing legislation that would change House rules to require committees to post the actual text of adopted bills and amendments online within 24 hours. Last week, it was revealed that Democratic leaders of the Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions (HELP) Committee quietly made more than 70 changes to the text of its health care bill after it was voted on in committee. The changes were made without a vote and without the knowledge of the committee’s Republican members. Boehner issued the following statement:

“The practice of secretly adding ‘phantom amendments’ to major bills after they pass committee is outrageous, and it should be banned. I’m pleased that Lynn Jenkins will introduce a resolution requiring committees to post bills and amendments online within 24 hours to prevent this kind of nonsense, and I thank her for her leadership on this issue.”

“The American people deserve a Congress that is accountable and transparent to the people it serves. Unfortunately, Washington Democrats have made a habit out of ramming through legislation introduced in the dark of night that no one has read, or making secret changes to bills after they’ve already been passed by committees. It’s time for Congress to change. Americans should be allowed to read the text of all bills online within 24 hours after they are approved by congressional committees.”

NOTE: Boehner and other Congressional Republicans are pressing for a series of reforms to make Congress more transparent and accountable. In addition to the Jenkins resolution to require that committees post bills and amendments online within 24 hours after they are passed at the committee level, it includes an effort by Reps. Greg Walden (R-OR) and John Culberson (R-TX) to change House rules to require a requirement that all bills be posted online for at least 72 hours before they are brought to a vote. These reforms are detailed at www.gopleader.gov/readthebill

http://www.lvtsg.com/biz_news/publish/fed_gov/article_31072.shtml

[hobbit709]

1. He certainly wasn't worried about this when they were the majority.

[thunder rising]

2. How can you tell Boehner is lieing? ...

[MiniMe]

3. He's talking?