John Joseph Moakley: “today's rule marks not the first but the second time my Republican colleagues have waived the two-thirds requirement for…”

“today's rule marks not the first but the second time my Republican colleagues have waived the two-thirds requirement for same day consideration of bills this session and this session just started. Mr. Speaker, it's looking an awful lot like my Republican colleagues are having trouble running the Congress. Today we are one-third of the way into the fiscal year and the Government is barely running--when it is it's doing so by the skin of its teeth, thanks only to a series of hastily passed continuing resolutions. For those who may have forgotten why the Government keeps shutting down for those who may not realize why all these continuing resolutions are necessary in the first place. It's because the Republican Congress has failed to fulfill its most basic responsibility. The responsibility to pass 13 appropriations bills by October 1. Those appropriations bills are probably the most important job Congress has and despite an unprecedented amount of wasted time and paper last year this Republican Congress has accomplished less than any Congress since World War II. Mr. Speaker, October 1 was 116 days ago--what's the hold up? I certainly hope this rule will prove to be the magic bullet. I certainly hope this rule the second time around will give my Republican colleagues what they need to get this Congress working and this Government running, for good. Mr. Speaker, I recognize the need to act quickly on these long overdue bills. Mr.…”