Howard Berman: “I rise very disappointed in the rule proposed for the consideration of S. 878 and intend to vote against it and urge my…”

“I rise very disappointed in the rule proposed for the consideration of S. 878 and intend to vote against it and urge my colleagues to oppose it. This rule makes in order only two amendments, both offered by Republican Members. It rejects four other amendments, including one that I myself offered. There is no defensible substantive rationale for this decision. There is a political rationale that is barely defensible. While my amendment would have required a waiver, both amendments that the Committee on Rules chose to make in order also required waivers. While my amendment has not been formally considered by the Committee on the Judiciary, the committee has also not considered the amendment proposing to split the Ninth Circuit. The Committee on Rules has once again decided to stifle an open debate. To make matters worse, its rule furthers a partisan political objective to the detriment of an important policy goal. I think the American public deserves to hear a little about the amendments that the Rules Committee does not want debated.”