John Joseph Moakley: “Mr. Speaker, the rule we are considering today adds another Republican broken promise to that ever growing heap. The…”

“Mr. Speaker, the rule we are considering today adds another Republican broken promise to that ever growing heap. The Republicans promised to let the American people have their say in Government by granting 70 percent open rules. They are breaking that promise. Republicans promised to consider every single contract item under an open rule. Mr. Speaker, they are breaking that promise also. I guess, Mr. Speaker, legislating is not as easy as it looks. In their hurry to finish the contract and begin the April recess, the Republicans forgot to put the civil RICO amendment offered by the gentleman from California [Mr. Cox] in H.R. 10. They also made a series of mistakes in the committee report which would have opened all sorts of points of order. But they decided to throw away the old bill and come up with a new one that has never seen the inside of a congressional committee room. That way they protect the bill from all types of points of order. Once again, the Republicans sang the praises of a deliberative democracy. Where is that chorus now, Mr. Speaker? It certainly was not in committee. In fact, the amendment this rule adds was not even considered by a congressional committee. It had no hearing, and it was never reported out. How is that for sunshine? Mr. Speaker, this restrictive rule will keep the people's representatives from improving this bill by capping the time allowed for amendments.”