LaMalfa Opposes Pelosi Plan to Limit Republican Amendments

(Washington, D.C.) Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R- Richvale) opposed Speaker Nancy Pelosi's partisan rules legislation, H. Res. 8, which eliminated Republicans' only guaranteed ability to have their amendments considered on the House Floor. For well over a century the US House of Representatives has allowed the minority party, whether Republican or Democrat, to offer amendments to legislation before it is passed out of the House. The "motion to recommit" isan important bipartisan practice: one in eight bills otherwise closed to changes were successfully improved. Without it, Democrats can overrule bipartisan attempts to improve legislation in the House.

LaMalfa stated: "It is increasingly clear Nancy Pelosi and House Democrats want to limit the ability of Republicans to offer ideas to improve legislation. The partisan rules package Democrats passed today eliminates a century old bipartisan protection for the minority party to offer amendments. Since Democrats are in the majority, the only way one of these amendments passes is through bipartisan support. Now, Democrat leadership will only allow a vote on the most extreme liberal policy."