President-elect Obama has called for Congress to move quickly and in a bipartisan fashion on legislation to help our economy get back on track. The Democratic majority in Congress has responded by proposing to revoke key elements of the Contract with America — reforms put in place as part of the Contract in 1995 to make Congress more transparent and accountable to the people it serves. The rules package Democratic leaders will reportedly bring to the floor and ram through the House today would change House rules to limit dissent and make it harder to cut taxes, and would repeal term-limits for incumbent committee chairmen such as Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-NY) and Henry Waxman (D-CA), reversing key reforms adopted at the start of the historic 104th Congress in 1995. Congressional Democrats are also holding a one-party hearing Wednesday on economic “solutions” at which skeptical viewpoints are not allowed. (Don’t expect to hear anyone challenge the notion that using taxpayers’ hard-earned money to add 600,000 new government workers in the name of economic “stimulus” is responsible policy. Nor should you expect to hear from any of the more than 50 economists who have contacted my office to express skepticism about the idea that the government can simply borrow and spend us back to economic prosperity.)
At this time of economic anxiety, the American people deserve better. Open debate and transparency are two of the key ingredients needed to produce good legislation. The Contract with America was about restoring the bonds of trust between the American people and their elected leaders. If Congressional Democrats proceed with these regrettable changes, the message it sends about their intended style of legislating in the 11th Congress will be an ominous one.
As I and other House Republican leaders noted in a letter to Speaker Pelosi yesterday, the rules package Congressional Democrats are poised to ram through the House today does not represent change; it is reverting back to the undemocratic one-party rule and backroom deals that the American people rejected more than a decade ago. And it has grave implications for the American people and their freedom, coming at a time when an unprecedented expansion of federal power and spending is being hastily planned by a single party behind closed doors. Republicans will vigorously oppose repealing these reforms if they are brought to a vote on the House floor later today.
A hill to defend
JustLeaveMeAlone Tuesday, January 6th at 9:46AM EST (link)Dear Congressman Boehner,
This is a hill worth defending. “Change we can believe in” has translated to “same old same old” or worse — a regression to party bosses, smoke-filled backroom deals, and the real failed policies of the past.
There’s a reason the American people have so little respect for Congress; the best news is that approval ratings can only improve from here
Many conservatives are unhappy about Republican complicity with economic bailouts and the like. But if you compromise with Pelosi et al on these rule changes, you may well lose whatever respect you had left. As a citizen and a taxpayer, I’m begging republican leadership to oppose this, stand firm, and don’t give in.
They may take this hill; but please don’t surrender it willingly.
“To compel a man to subsidize with his taxes the propagation of ideas which he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical.” Thomas Jefferson
Nancy can't wait to get started.
johnt Tuesday, January 6th at 10:21AM EST (link)All that money, all that power, a supine public, a Democratic heaven.
Have you noticed the constant use of the word “huge” to describe the tax credits bribery being proposed? Dwarfed by the spending proposals yet huge. Spending I might add directed at an infrastructure whose maintenance we pay billions for every year.
Good Luck Congressman, don’t let them get too brazen in their thievery.
“a man’s admiration for absolute government is proportinate to the contempt he feels for those around him”. Tocqueville
Dear Congressman,
MelZ Tuesday, January 6th at 10:36AM EST (link)I hope you and other Republican leaders will fight for every bit of media you can manage to get. It may be an uphill battle with little results, but the fight is worth it.
We need to see this headline:
“Democrats don’t allow opposing view points in their meeting”
Not just this:
“Democrat leaders meet to correct economy”.
Fight for your voice to be heard in every American’s home!
MelZ
I respectfully disagree
oleslow Tuesday, January 6th at 10:42AM EST (link)Dear Congressman,
I appreciate you posting and for making a stand, but I don’t think the American people deserve any better than we are getting, but instead, are getting exactly what we(collectively) voted for.
It is obvious that the “Democratic” party is more concerned about its own power and agenda than our country.
At this time, you are one of the few who can fight for us and our country and keep them somewhat in check.
Keep up the fight.
so?
Jack Tuesday, January 6th at 12:20PM EST (link)Why don’t you and Rep. Cantor along with Sen Cornyn go back on CNN and NBC and talk about the wonderful cabinet the President elect has and how you want to work with him.
Those comments and the constant apologies are why you are here writing this instead of being the Speak of the House.
Jack
“If at age 20 you are conservative you have no heart. It at age 30 you are liberal you have no brains.” Sir Winston Churchill
Congressman this is your bed
Mark Malcolm Tuesday, January 6th at 1:23PM EST (link)I respectfully submit you and your fellow republicans have made this bed by failing to recall tried and true conservative principals. Your numbers are down because your collective base refused to turn out to vote for moderates who betray the public trust by reaching across the isle.
To recover from this situation you will have to earn, yes earn, back the respect of the American people by fighting. Not just fighting this rules change, but publicly proclaiming your principals and then standing on them when they’re infringed upon. By remembering you REPRESENT everyday Americans and what those americans believe in. Even if you believe you will ultimately loose the battle you must fight on. Compromise is no longer an option. It was tried. It failed. The moderate candidate lost. Now is the time to reach deep down and grab a handful of sand to prove you’ve got some. Now is the time to stand on the wall to keep the wolves at bay. If you fail to do so we will find someone who can. Good luck, sir, and God speed.
I may not agree with what you say but I’ll defend your right to say it to the very death.