Julia Brownley: “Doesn't the bill before us set up a commission to examine deficit reduction? My motion to recommit would open up the…”

“Doesn't the bill before us set up a commission to examine deficit reduction? My motion to recommit would open up the entire Federal Government so that our taxpayers can receive the benefits they have already paid for. The recommit deals with government expenditures, and right now we are running a deficit. So isn't the amount the government is spending a relevant topic to deficit reduction? Can the Chair explain why it's not germane to open up the entire Federal Government while we discuss deficit reduction? Mr. Speaker, if you rule this motion out of order, does that mean we will not have a chance to keep the entire Federal Government open today? Can the Chair please explain why we can't keep the entire Federal Government open today? The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair is prepared to rule. The gentleman from Texas makes a point of order that the instructions proposed in the motion to recommit offered by the gentlewoman from California are not germane. As recorded in section 932 of the House Rules and Manual, a general principle of germaneness is that an amendment must relate to the subject matter under consideration. The instant bill proposes to establish a working group composed of Members and Senators. As such, it proposes a bicameral order in the form of a joint rule. In contrast, the instructions in the motion to recommit provide for the disposition of an extant legislative measure. As such, it proposes a special order of business of the House.…”